A man in France has become the first person ever found to carry Shamonda virus, and he died in early October 2026, BBC News Science reported.
Authorities are investigating whether the virus played a role in his death, The Guardian said.
Shamonda virus belongs to the bunyavirus family and is spread through bites from infected midges. It ordinarily circulates among livestock, cattle, sheep, and goats among them, rather than in people. In animals, the virus can cause diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and reduced milk production. Infected mothers may also experience pregnancy loss, and newborn calves, lambs, and kids born to them can carry congenital abnormalities, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety.