What do we know about the Chamonda virus after the first human infection was recorded in France?

D- France reported the first death due to a known human infection with the Chamonda virus, on Thursday, but the World Health Organization confirms that the case is considered isolated so far, and does not pose a broader threat to the general population. The organization said, in a post on social media, that it is “in contact with the French authorities and closely monitoring the situation,” noting that it will publish developments whenever it has additional information.

Chamunda virus primarily infects cattle. Chamunda virus was first detected in cattle in Nigeria in 1965, according to the World Health Organization. The virus mostly infects cattle, but infections have also been recorded among sheep, goats, horses and alpacas.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, infected animals may exhibit clinical symptoms, including: The virus may also cause birth defects in newborn calves. The virus has recently been detected in Europe. Most cases of Chamunda virus infection have been recorded in Africa and Japan.

However, it was detected for the first time in Europe this summer, in cows in southern Germany and Switzerland. Since then, it has also been discovered in animals in other regions of Western Europe, including Austria, Belgium and France.

The virus is transmitted to animals through the bites of Culicoides, which are small fly-like insects. The World Health Organization indicates the need for further studies to accurately determine the species responsible for transmitting the virus.

It is not known yet that the virus is transmitted from one animal to another, with the exception of its transmission from an infected animal to its fetus during pregnancy. The Chamunda virus is classified as an orthoponia virus, and belongs to the Symbo subgroup, which also includes the snuff virus.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, outbreaks caused by this group “tend to occur in cycles that follow seasonal patterns of spread.” However, the patterns of virus spread in Europe may differ from those prevailing in the regions where these viruses are endemic.

The risk of the virus to humans is low. The French authorities suspect that the person infected with the Chamonda virus was bitten by a finch carrying the virus. But health officials stress the need to conduct further investigations to determine how the person became infected with the virus, and to find out whether it caused or contributed to his death.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the infected person was receiving treatment for a serious illness that made him more vulnerable to infection than the general population. The World Organization for Animal Health says that “the ability of bunyaviruses to infect humans varies from one virus to another.”

“Specific risk assessments should be conducted to determine the biosafety and biocontainment measures needed to handle infectious materials in laboratories,” she adds. Limited surveillance of infections The OIE encourages countries to voluntarily report cases of Chamunda virus infection, but such reporting is not mandatory.

Confirming the infection of animals also requires laboratory tests, as the clinical symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases. There are currently no treatments or vaccines available for Chamunda virus.