Can Shamonda virus be transmitted from person to person?

Shamonda virus: Human-to-human transmission

No—based on current evidence, Shamonda virus does not spread from person to person; transmission is vector-borne (primarily Culicoides biting midges) and involves animal hosts, with no documented human-to-human spread. 1, 2

• What we know

  • Shamonda virus (a Simbu serogroup orthobunyavirus) has been detected in cattle and biting midges, with outbreaks and isolations from Culicoides and ruminants; this supports an animal–vector–animal cycle, not human-to-human spread 1, 2.
  • Recent detections and reassortants in animals and vectors (Japan, South Africa, Europe) reinforce vector-mediated transmission; there are no reports of direct human-to-human transmission in these data 3, 4, 5, 6.

• Implications for morbidity, mortality, and quality of life

  • Human risk from person-to-person spread appears negligible; preventing vector exposure around livestock and managing Culicoides control around farms are the key measures to reduce disease burden in animals and any potential zoonotic spillover 1, 2.

• Caveats and pitfalls

  • Do not assume mosquito-borne patterns; focus on Culicoides midges near ruminants.
  • Reassortment among Simbu viruses is documented; continue surveillance as phenotypes can shift, but this does not equate to proven human-to-human transmission 3, 5.