French health authorities said on Thursday that they had detected the Shamonda virus in a human for the first time in a person who later died.

The patient, who was already being treated for a serious illness at a hospice in Lyon, was found to have been infected with the virus before he died in early October.

Until now, the virus - which usually affects livestock - was considered non-transmissible to humans, the agricultural department said, adding that they saw no health risk to the general population at this stage.

But initial investigations suggest that cerebral complications seen in the immunocompromised patient before his death were “very likely” linked to infection with the Shamonda virus, they noted.

The disease can cause sudden fever, loose stool and abdominal discomfort in adult cattle (file) (AFP/Getty)

What is the Shamonda virus?

Shamonda virus is an insect-borne Orthobunyavirus primarily affecting livestock, particularly cattle, and transmitted by biting midges.

First identified in Nigeria…