New Delhi. The World Health Organization (WHO) posted late night on the social media platform This information was given by France on 20 October 2026. Shamonda virus is a virus that mainly affects animals. This virus causes infection in animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Till now this virus was believed to be limited to animals, but this first case reported in France shows that the virus can infect humans too.
Shamonda virus is believed to be spread between animals through the bites of small flies, called midges. This virus does not spread directly from one animal to another. An exception to this is during pregnancy, when an infected animal can transmit the virus to the baby in its womb. How it spreads to humans and whether midges have caused infection in humans is still under investigation. WHO and French health officials are investigating this aspect in depth.
Shamonda virus is already present among animals in several countries in Africa and Japan. However, since June 2026, this virus has made its presence felt in Europe as well. Cases of infection in cows and horses have been reported in many countries of Western Europe such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and France. The case found in humans in France is a new link in this sequence. At present this is a single and isolated case. WHO has clarified that it is continuously monitoring the situation and will continue to share updates as new information emerges. WHO said it is in contact with French authorities and is closely monitoring the situation.