A Mysterious Rare Virus Called Alaskapox First Surfaced In 2015, And Since Then, 7 Cases Have Been Reported
After a mysterious rare virus called Alaskapox caused an elderly man to die, public health professionals are closely monitoring the effects and spread of the illness. The man’s death has become the first known fatality linked to Alaskapox.
The virus was first identified in 2015. Since then, seven cases of Alaskapox have been reported. They were limited to the state of Alaska.
The most recent one was diagnosed in an elderly man on the Kenai Peninsula, who died in January. The Alaska Department of Health stated that this is the first time a severe Alaskapox infection has resulted in death.
Officials noted that the man had been undergoing cancer treatment that had weakened his immune system, leaving him in a vulnerable condition, which likely contributed to the severity of his illness.
Experts say that Alaskapox has been associated with mild symptoms, such as skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes, and joint or muscle pain.
It typically clears up after a few weeks, but immunocompromised people might be at heightened risk of experiencing complications from the virus.
The virus is most commonly found in small mammal populations throughout Alaska, like red-backed voles, shrews, and red squirrels.
Infections remain rare in humans. Although humans can catch the virus from animals, there has been no documentation of humans transmitting it to each other so far.
Alaskapox belongs to the orthopox group, which includes viruses such as smallpox that are characterized by the way they cause the body to develop skin lesions.
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Alaskapox has been referred to as an “old world” virus found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. This means that it may have existed in Alaska for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
It is unclear how long Alaskapox has been around in the state, but it has consistently been acquired after contact with an animal.
According to the Alaska Department of Health, the first case of Alaskapox was discovered in a patient from Fairbanks. The next five cases were also found in people in the Fairbanks area.
However, the most recent case was reported about 500 miles away on the Kenai Peninsula. So, not only was this case of Alaskapox the first to result in death, but it was also the first to be located outside of Fairbanks.
The finding has led health officials to the conclusion that Alaskapox is more geographically widespread than previously believed. Additionally, more awareness of the symptoms and risks that come with Alaskapox is needed.
An analysis of the virus that had infected the most recent patient showed that there were distinctions between it and the cases from Fairbanks.
So, it seems unlikely that the virus was passed down from the Fairbanks area. Domestic pets like dogs and cats may play a role in the spread of Alaskapox. The man who died had lived in a remote region and cared for a stray cat that frequently scratched him.
The Alaska Department of Health recommends that people become familiar with the symptoms of the virus.
They advised those with suspected Alaskapox to cover up skin lesions and keep them dry. There is no need for people outside of Alaska to be concerned about contracting the illness since none of the diagnosed individuals had recently traveled outside of the state.
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