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

A 61-year-old man in France has tragically lost his life to the Shamonda virus, a disease previously only observed in animals. The man, who was battling leukaemia, contracted the virus likely through a midge bite. With documented cases of infected animals in Europe and previous outbreaks in Africa and Asia, health officials are investigating how the virus spreads and its possible risks to humans.