Overview
- The infection was confirmed during an autopsy and announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, marking the first known BoDV‑1 case in Landkreis Neuburg‑Schrobenhausen.
- Scientists say the virus lives in the feldspitzmaus, which sheds virus in urine, feces and saliva, and the exact route by which people become infected remains unclear.
- Local and state authorities state the event is an extremely rare, single case, that BoDV‑1 is not spread between humans under natural conditions, and that contact tracing is not required.
- Bavarian health agencies advise practical precautions such as avoiding direct contact with live or dead shrews, using gloves and a mask when disposing of carcasses, disinfecting contaminated surfaces and avoiding dusty work in shrew habitats.
- BoDV‑1 infections are rare nationally — roughly 60 reported since reporting began in 2020 with up to seven acute cases per year — but more than 90 percent have occurred in Bavaria and officials will monitor for further cases as they investigate animal and environmental exposure links.