The senior distinguished researcher "Beatriz Galindo" of the Institute of Research in Game Resources (IREC) of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, David Roiz, has reiterated that the Shamonda virus poses "no risk to the general population," despite the confirmation of the death in France of a patient who was being treated for a serious illness.
"Shamonda is a bunyavirus transmitted among cattle by culicoides or midges, which are small dipterans that also transmit bluetongue," he detailed in statements collected by SMC Spain. "In a globalized world, where animals, goods, and the climate are changing, it is not strange that cases of human transmission occur and we should not worry, only monitor and be attentive and proactive to potential health risks," he added, insisting that the focus should be on surveillance.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the case of the deceased patient in France constitutes the first documented human infection by this virus. However, Roiz emphasized that the affected individual presented "severe immunodepression" along with "a serious pathology caused by the Shamonda virus," factors that clearly condition his clinical evolution.
In parallel, the group leader and full professor at the Virology Research Centre of the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the University of Glasgow (Scotland), Ben Brennan, has recalled that the virus "is closely related to the Schmallenberg virus, which appeared in Europe in 2011 and caused serious disease in livestock," and has specified that its presence is mainly linked to these animals.
A human case with scientific relevance
In Brennan's opinion, the identification of an infection in a person represents "an important scientific finding." "However, it is important to put this in perspective," he clarified, as "the patient had a serious underlying illness that made him especially vulnerable to infections, and we still do not know if the Shamonda virus contributed to his death," he stated in remarks to SMC United Kingdom.
The virologist has emphasized that "the detection of a virus in a patient with a severely compromised immune system does not necessarily mean that it poses a significant risk to people who are otherwise healthy," and has reiterated that "currently, there is no evidence that the Shamonda virus causes widespread disease in humans, although more research is needed to understand its ability to infect people."
After stressing that "little" is known about "how this person contracted the infection," he explained that the study continues to clarify "whether the virus played any role in their illness or death." In his opinion, there are no reasons for the public to "worry excessively," even when "the virus has been circulating among animals for many years."
For now, he emphasized, the Shamonda virus "does not suggest a new significant threat to public health" nor does it require changes to daily routines or the implementation of additional protective measures. Nevertheless, he considered that "this discovery justifies further scientific investigation and ongoing surveillance" to anticipate possible changes in its behavior.
In similar terms, the associate professor of the Animal Health department at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Murcia, Mónica González Candela, has stated that regarding the deceased patient, "we need to see if the virus worsened their prognosis." In her view, it will "probably" be necessary to "conduct a retrospective study to see serologically how many people may be infected with the virus subclinically, without symptoms," in order to better understand its silent circulation.
"Right now, I believe that there is no need to alarm at all and that the immediate challenge is to strengthen integrated surveillance among doctors, veterinarians, biologists, and entomologists with a 'One Health' approach," she stated to SMC Spain, referring to the "One Health" approach promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), which advocates for coordination between human, animal, and environmental health.