At the end of October 2026, the first case of fatal Shamonda virus (SHAV) infection in an immunocompromised person was reported in France. This is the first known case of human infection with this virus worldwide, which has been present in Africa since the 1960s. There are currently no further indications of a health risk to the general public. This isolated case is under further investigation. In Germany, initial investigations are underway to determine whether people have antibodies against the virus.
Since summer 2026, the virus has primarily been found in cattle, sheep, and goats in Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and numerous other central European countries. In these animals, the infections were mostly characterised by mild symptoms. However, in horses, isolated cases of infection with severe symptoms have been identified. Post-mortem examinations revealed high viral loads in the brain, indicating that SHAV infection was the cause of death.
