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Scientists react to the first ever human infected with Shamonda virus.
Dr Ben Brennan, Group Leader and Senior Lecturer, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, said:
“Shamonda virus is a member of a large group of viruses known as bunyaviruses. It is closely related to Schmallenberg virus, which emerged in Europe in 2011 and caused significant disease in livestock, particularly reproductive abnormalities and birth defects in cattle and sheep.
“Like Schmallenberg virus, Shamonda virus is primarily associated with livestock and is transmitted by small biting insects called midges. Although scientists have known about the virus for many years, until now it has been associated with infections in animals rather than humans.”
“This is an important scientific finding, as it is the first reported human infection with Shamonda virus. However, it is important to put this into perspective. The patient had a serious underlying illness that left them particularly vulnerable to infections, and we do not yet know whether Shamonda virus contributed to their death.
“Finding a virus in a severely immunocompromised patient does not necessarily mean it poses a significant risk to otherwise healthy individuals. At present, there is no evidence that Shamonda virus causes widespread human disease, although further investigation is needed to understand its ability to infect people.”
“At present, we know relatively little about how this individual acquired the infection. Shamonda virus is normally transmitted between animals by biting midges, so exposure to an infected insect is one possibility, but this has not been established.
“French public health authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the infection, including how the patient was exposed and whether the virus played any role in their illness or death. Until those investigations are complete, it would be premature to draw firm conclusions.”
“Based on the information currently available, there is no reason for the general UK public to be unduly concerned. This is a single reported human infection in someone who was already seriously ill and immunocompromised, despite the virus having circulated in animals for many years.
“There is currently no evidence of sustained transmission between humans, and the virus is normally spread through biting midges rather than everyday contact between people.
“While this discovery warrants further scientific investigation and continued surveillance, it does not currently suggest a significant new public health threat to the UK. For most people, there is no reason to change their normal activities or take additional precautions.”
Declared interests
Dr Ben Brennan: “My laboratory studies the molecular biology and pathogenesis of a range of bunyaviruses, including viruses closely related to Shamonda virus. Although we currently have no funding specifically allocated to studying Shamonda virus, we are actively seeking to obtain the virus to initiate studies of its biological characteristics and better understand its potential to cause disease.”