Institute of Diagnostic Virology (IVD)

In 2011, an orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup was detected in Germany for the first time. Schmallenberg virus (SBV), which is transmitted by midges causes disease primarily in ruminants. Starting in the German-Dutch border region, SBV spread throughout Germany and across large parts of Europe within a very short time and is now enzootic in Europe.

In the summer of 2026, there was once again a new virus of the Simbu serogroup detected in Germany. This new virus shows the closest genetic relationship to Shamonda virus (SHAV) in all three genome segments.

Adult animals infected with Schmallenberg or Shamonda virus show no symptoms or mild, short-lived clinical signs such as fever, decreased milk production, or diarrhea. However, if naïve pregnant ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goat become infected with Schmallenberg virus during a critical period in early gestation, severe congenital malformation, still birth or premature births may occur. Infection in pregnant sheep leads to malformations more frequently than in cattle. If infection occurs in late gestation, also serologically positive calves and lambs may be born. The body of evidence for Shamonda virus is significantly smaller than that for Schmallenberg virus. Cattle are considered to be important hosts. While infections of small and wild ruminants and other mammals are generally possible in the case of Simbu serogroup viruses, the evidence for Shamonda virus itself is limited. Fetal malformations have been documented in cattle.

An infection with Schmallenberg virus is a reportable animal disease in Germany.