Shamonda virus (SHAV) has been detected in livestock in Great Britain for the first time, the Animal and Plant Health Agency announced on 2 November 2026. In October 2026 the virus was found in cattle at two dairy farms, one in Powys, Wales and one in Shropshire, England, after samples were tested at APHA laboratories in Weybridge.

SHAV is an emerging virus in Europe, thought to be spread mainly by Culicoides biting midges, and the agency said it had been identified in animals in several European countries during 2026, including more recently in cattle in Jersey and the Republic of Ireland. APHA described the British detection as not unexpected given those reports.

The virus is not a notifiable or reportable disease, and there is currently no evidence that additional disease-control measures are required. Defra, the Welsh and Scottish governments and APHA will continue to monitor the situation. Livestock keepers are advised to watch their animals for clinical signs and contact their private veterinarian with concerns.

APHA said a single human case has been identified in a severely immunosuppressed person in France, with no evidence of wider transmission among people and a very low risk to the general population. The Food Standards Agency confirmed there is currently no evidence that SHAV poses a food safety risk.