Shamonda Virus Livestock Case in UK (Credits: iStock)
\n\nA virus that was previously known to primarily affect animals has now been detected in cattle at two dairy farms in the UK, raising fresh questions about its potential to infect humans. The development comes weeks after France reported the world's first confirmed human infection with Shamonda virus (SHAV), involving a patient who later died.
\n\nAccording to the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the virus was detected in October 2026 at two dairy farms, one in Powys, Wales, and the other in Shropshire, England. It has also been identified in livestock across several European countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and Spain.
\n\nShamonda virus is an animal-associated infection belonging to the Orthobunyavirus genus and the Simbu serogroup. It was first isolated from cattle in Nigeria in 1965 and has previously been reported in parts of Africa and Asia, including Japan.
\n\nThe virus primarily affects cattle, although infections have also been identified in sheep, goats, horses and alpacas. It is believed to spread mainly through bites from infected Culicoides midges, tiny flying insects that can transmit viruses between animals. Direct animal-to-animal transmission is not considered a typical route, although transmission from…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle
