Authorities for France don talk say dem don detect first known human case of Shamonda virus (Shav) for one patient wey die early October. Health officials describe am as one exceptional case for patient wey immune system no strong at all, and dem talk say for now no risk to public.
Shav mainly dey affect cattle, and infected midges fit spread am. Dem don also see cases for sheep, goats, alpacas and horses, but before now nobody hear say human being catch am. Officials for France still dey find out how the virus take reach human, while World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control talk say dem dey monitor the situation.
Ministries of health and agriculture for France talk on Thursday say dem believe the patient catch Shav through midge bite for eastern France, where dem first see cases for animals in spring. Dem treat the patient for serious sickness for one hospital for Lyon, and the person get neurological complications wey initial findings suggest say very likely connect to the virus. The statement stress say the patient immune system weak, so e make am more likely to fall sick.
Authorities for France note say until now, dem dey consider Shamonda virus as one wey no dey pass to human. Dem talk say dem only see am for animals despite say e don circulate for Africa and Asia for decades. Dairy herds wey catch Shav from bites fit get fever, diarrhoea and poor milk production.
World Health Organization confirm say na first documented human case of the disease. E talk say e never do im own formal risk assessment, but current information and knowledge of similar diseases suggest say the case isolated and unlikely to lead to wider spread at this time. E add say transmissibility of midge-borne viruses generally dey reduce during cooler months of the year.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control talk say e dey work with partners for France and Europe to investigate wetin the infection fit mean for public health. The agency talk say dem first identify cases of the virus for Europe late July. Since then, dem don detect am for farm animals for several countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as for Jersey.
