An animal-borne virus called Shamonda, which normally circulates in livestock, has infected and killed a human for the first time

For the first time, a human has contracted and died from the Shamonda virus, a disease-causing microbe that had previously been known only to infect animals. While the incident is unlikely to herald a more widespread outbreak, it is a potent reminder of the potential for pathogens to jump from animals to humans, with deadly consequences.As per a report by Scientific American, a 61-year-old man who was undergoing treatment for leukaemia at the Civil Hospital of Lyon in France contracted the disease. According to a case report published in Eurosurveillance, the man had undergone a stem cell transplant and experienced fatal encephalitis, or brain swelling. He showed symptoms, such as blindness and confusion, that the report authors say were likely caused by the virus. The man fell into a coma and succumbed to the disease on October 9, 2026, after life support was withdrawn. He is the first person ever known to have contracted the disease and died as a result.In a joint statement, the French Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture said that they suspect the patient contracted the disease from a midge bite in eastern France, where the disease has been found in several animals. Of...