European Shamonda virus spreads across all Bavarian regions, threatening livestock health

The European variant of Shamonda virus, transmitted by biting midges, is now widespread across Bavaria, affecting cattle and other livestock, with authorities racing to contain the outbreak amid concerns over fetal damage and milk production.

A mosquito-borne livestock virus first identified by Germany’s Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut is spreading through cattle herds in Bavaria, with authorities warning that cases are now appearing across all administrative regions of the state.

According to the Bavarian state health office and the Bavarian Farmers’ Association, the European variant of Shamonda virus has been circulating since summer, mainly in southern Germany, Switzerland and France. The virus is carried by biting midges and is closely related to Schmallenberg virus, which has long been known in German livestock.

In infected dairy cows, symptoms include fever, diarrhoea and a marked fall in milk output. The farmers’ association said animals usually recover after a few days, but pregnant stock may face abortions or malformed calves. The health office said such fetal damage is considered highly likely because of the virus’s similarity to Schmallenberg. There is no evidence of meaningful risk to humans from milk or meat.

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut said the new European strain has also been confirmed in cattle in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, as well as in a horse, an alpaca, sheep and goats. It expects further spread.

Bavaria’s health office said it has detected the virus genome in more than 1,000 samples since early August through passive monitoring of symptomatic animals. No vaccine is available, so officials say the priority is reducing exposure to midges.