France records first human death linked to Shamonda virus

— Authorities say patient was severely immunocompromised, no public health risk identified

France has reported the death of a severely immunocompromised patient infected with Shamonda virus, marking the first recorded human case of the virus.

The death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the French ministries responsible for health and agriculture, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The ministries described the infection as “an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient”.

The patient, who died in early October, was believed to have contracted the virus through the bite of a midge in eastern France, where the virus had been circulating amo...