Patient dies in France after the cattle-borne Shamonda virus is detected in a human for the first time

French health authorities say the general population faces no risk at this stage. Spread through the bites of midges, the virus had until now been considered exclusively an animal disease, with no human infections ever recorded. The patient is thought to have been exposed in eastern France, where livestock were carrying the virus during the spring and summer months. No vaccine exists.

The UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency reported the virus in Jersey cows last month.

First detected in Germany in August, it has since spread to France, Switzerland and Austria.

Pregnancy loss has been recorded in cattle that contracted the virus, raising concern about birth defects in calves.