Alaska health officials have confirmed the first death from a newly found viral illness called Alaskapox. The victim was an elderly man from the Kenai peninsula, south of Anchorage. He passed away in late January, making him one of only seven known cases.
Julia Rogers, a state epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of awareness among clinicians to recognize the signs and symptoms of Alaskapox. It took several months for doctors to diagnose the fatal case. The patient’s weakened immune system may have contributed to his death. However, it’s uncertain how he caught the illness.
Reports say, the man lived alone in the woods and hadn’t travelled recently. He might have caught the disease from a cat he lived with. The cat scratched him when he started showing symptoms. Though the cat tested negative for the virus, officials believe it could have spread from its claws.
The man was hospitalized in Anchorage and underwent many tests in December. Initially, he tested positive for cowpox, but further tests by the Centers for Disease Control revealed it was Alaskapox. He died from kidney and respiratory failure.
What is Alaskapox?
It’s a double-stranded-DNA virus related to smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox. It was first identified in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2015 and is common in small animals.
According to Alaska’s website, there’s no documented human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox, but precautions are advised for those with skin lesions. Symptoms include skin bumps, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain. People with weakened immune systems may face more severe illness.