Abstract
In August–September 2026, we detected Shamonda virus (SHAV) (genus Orthobunyavirus) RNA in 15 of 34 pools of 610 field-collected Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of C. obsoletus group, C. circumscriptus and C. festivipennis on cattle farms in Switzerland. The overall minimum infection rate was 24.59 per 1,000 females tested. Further investigations of the role of local biting midge species in virus transmission and the potential implications for animal and human health are needed, considering possible zoonotic concerns.
Source: Eurosurveillance Journal, https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.45.2600927
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