First Human Death Linked to Schmallenberg Virus Variant After Midge Bite
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
French health authorities confirmed the first suspected human death from the Schmallenberg virus, likely transmitted by a midge bite, in a man with severe immunodeficiency. The zoonotic virus, typically affecting cattle, was previously not known to infect humans. While the virus has been circulating in French livestock, this is the first documented human case, and authorities state there is no threat to the general population. Israeli experts noted the patient's compromised immune system was a key factor in the severe outcome.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- France reported its first suspected human death from the Schmallenberg virus, likely via midge bite.
- The deceased patient suffered from severe immunodeficiency, a key factor in the fatal outcome.
- Schmallenberg virus, previously only known to affect cattle, is now confirmed in a human case.
- French health authorities state the exceptional case poses no threat to the general population.
- The World Health Organization is monitoring the situation and deems widespread transmission unlikely.
French health authorities have reported the first suspected human case of the Schmallenberg virus, which led to the death of a man with severe immunodeficiency. The patient, who lived in the Lyon region, was being treated for a serious illness at the University Hospital Center of Lyon (HCL) and died in early October. He developed brain complications, likely due to the infection. Health officials are investigating whether the man contracted the zoonotic virus from a midge bite, as the virus is active in animals in eastern France. The Schmallenberg virus, previously thought to be transmissible only to cattle, was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since appeared sporadically in Africa, Japan, and parts of Europe. It belongs to the Orthobunyavirus genus and is transmitted to animals primarily by Culicoides midges. While the virus has been circulating in French livestock, causing symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and reduced milk yield, this is the first documented human infection. French authorities emphasize this is an exceptional case in an immunocompromised individual and poses no threat to the general population. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have been notified, with the WHO stating it is monitoring the situation and considers widespread transmission unlikely at this stage.
Israeli experts, Professor Eyal Leshem and Professor Tal Brosh, highlighted that while the virus typically affects cattle and can cause miscarriages and birth defects in offspring, human infection is rare. They stressed the patient's severe immunodeficiency as a critical factor, noting that some pathogens can cause severe illness in immunocompromised individuals while being harmless to healthy people. Professor Leshem pointed out that related viruses, like the Oropouche virus in Latin America, have caused human illness, but Schmallenberg virus had not been previously detected in humans. Professor Brosh suggested that infection could occur if the animal virus mutates to become more dangerous to humans or if a person's immune system is too weak to fight off even a non-adapted virus.