KENAI PENINSULA, Alaska – Health officials in Alaska have reported the first known fatality from the recently discovered virus, Alaskapox. The victim, an elderly man from the remote Kenai Peninsula, succumbed to the illness in late January after being hospitalized in November. The man, who was undergoing cancer treatment and had a suppressed immune system, may have experienced more severe symptoms due to his medical condition, according to a bulletin issued by public health officials.
Alaskapox, also known as AKPV, is related to smallpox, cowpox, and mpox, with symptoms that can include a rash, swollen lymph nodes, and joint or muscle pain. The virus is transmitted by small mammals, and only six other cases have been reported since the first one in 2015, all of which were mild and resulted in recovery without hospitalization. The man who died resided in a forested area and reported no recent travel or close contact with any individual displaying similar symptoms, according to the health bulletin.
Health officials suspect that the virus may be zoonotic, meaning it can jump from animals to humans. Tests have found evidence of current or previous infection in several species of small mammals in the Fairbanks area, including red-backed voles, as well as in at least one domestic pet. The possibility that the virus was transmitted to the victim by a stray cat he had cared for has been raised, as the cat regularly hunted small mammals and frequently scratched the man.
Citizens have been advised to cover any affected areas with a bandage if they suspect they may have contracted the virus, as well as to wash their hands thoroughly, avoid sharing clothing that may have come into contact with any lesions, and to launder clothing and sheets separately from other household items. Additionally, health authorities have urged Alaskans to adhere to federal health precautions when around wildlife to minimize the risk of contracting Alaskapox.