Context
- Recently, the French health authorities have reported the world’s first confirmed human infection of the Shamonda virus in an immunocompromised patient who subsequently died from neurological complications.
What is the Shamonda Virus?
- The Shamonda virus is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus (family Peribunyaviridae).
- It is primarily an animal pathogen that infects livestock, especially cattle, though sporadic cases occur in sheep, goats, and horses.
- Symptoms in livestock include acute diarrhoea, high fever, lethargy, reduced milk yield, and congenital defects or spontaneous abortions in pregnant animals.
Transmission and Vector Dynamics
- The virus is a vector-borne pathogen primarily transmitted via the bites of small biting insects, mainly midges (Culicoides species).
- Animal-to-animal spread: Primarily through infected midges, rather than direct contact.
- Pregnancy-related transmission: Vertical transmission has been reported, raising concerns about infection affecting unborn animals.
- Prior to this incident, the virus had circulated exclusively among animals, with no historical transmission to humans.
Treatment, vaccine and prevention
- Vaccine: WOAH reports that no commercially available vaccine against Shamonda virus is currently available.
- Specific treatment: No established virus-specific treatment is identified in the cited veterinary guidance.
- Animal prevention: Veterinary surveillance, reducing exposure to biting midges, using suitable physical barriers and following veterinary advice can help reduce transmission risk.
- Diagnosis: Laboratory testing is important because symptoms overlap with other livestock diseases.
Geographical Distribution
- The virus was first isolated and identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s.
- For decades, its circulation was confined to regions of Africa and parts of Asia (including Japan).
- It was detected in Europe for the first time in July 2026, subsequently spreading across livestock populations in 14 western European nations.
| Important CTC (Concepts to Connect) from this article for UPSC United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Mandate, Functions & Environmental Governance |
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Shamonda virus:
1. It is a vector-borne virus primarily transmitted through the bites of midges (Culicoides species).
2. It primarily affects livestock such as cattle, causing symptoms like fever and drop in milk yield.
3. It has historically caused frequent seasonal human epidemics across sub-Saharan Africa.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 – Correct: The virus belongs to the Orthobunyavirus group and is transmitted between hosts via bites from small biting insects, predominantly midges.
• Statement 2 – Correct: Cattle serve as its primary animal reservoir; clinical manifestations include acute diarrhoea, fever, lethargy, and a marked reduction in milk yield.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: Although the virus has circulated in Africa and Asia for several decades in animal populations, it had never been detected in humans prior to the single isolated case reported in France.