Health authorities urge vigilance, not concern
Esteve Fernández, Secretary of Public Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, stated on Friday 23 October 2026 that the Shamonda virus (SHAV) does not place Catalonia in a state of alarm. His comments follow the confirmation of the first documented human infection in France, where a patient died in early October. The French case involved a person with multiple pre-existing illnesses and who was immunocompromised, making them highly susceptible to complications. The patient, treated in Lyon, experienced neurological problems likely linked to the virus, according to initial findings from French health authorities.
Uncertainty over cause and transmission
Despite the fatality, European health agencies have not confirmed whether the virus directly caused the death or contributed to it. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is investigating how the infection occurred. Current hypotheses suggest transmission via a bite from a midge of the Culicoides genus, which are known to spread the virus among livestock.
We don't know if it caused the death, if it contributed in any way, nor do we know how the infection occurred. All of this makes us, obviously, prepared. We have to be vigilant, but it doesn't put us in a state of alarm in any way.
, Esteve Fernández, Secretary of Public Health, Generalitat de Catalunya
Shamonda virus remains rare and animal-focused
The Shamonda virus was first detected in European farm animals in summer 2026, with clinical signs reported from June and the pathogen identified in late July. Since then, it has been found in farm animals across several countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, as well as Jersey. According to the ECDC, midge activity in Europe is declining due to cooling autumn temperatures, reducing the likelihood of further transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that current evidence suggests this case is isolated and unlikely to lead to wider spread. The virus primarily affects livestock, where it can cause fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk production. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the risk to the general population remains very low. Public health agencies in Catalonia, including the Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPCAT), continue to monitor the situation. The Generalitat’s official portal for active health threats lists no active alert for SHAV.
Sources: Crónica Global, ecdc.europa.eu.
