What Is Alaskapox? Scientists Monitor Rare Virus After First Fatal Case Surface in New Region

Health experts are closely monitoring the rare "Alaskapox" virus following a recent fatality outside Alaska's interior.

Officials reported the first-known death in January, urging statewide vigilance among doctors for potential cases. While the virus was first discovered near Fairbanks in 2015, the recent fatality is the initial one attributed to Alaskapox, occurring outside the state's interior. Authorities emphasize the importance of recognizing disease signs and highlight the higher risk for severe illness among immunocompromised individuals, with all identified cases thus far within the state.

First Fatality Case of Alaskapox Virus

Since its identification in 2015, Alaskapox cases have been limited. Typically resolving within weeks, the virus poses increased risks for individuals with compromised immune systems.

A recent fatality, the first beyond Fairbanks, Alaska, highlights its broader geographic presence. An elderly man on the Kenai Peninsula succumbed to Alaskapox, potentially exacerbated by weakened immunity from cancer treatment. Hospitalized in November, his demise in January underscores the virus's potential complications.

This recent case emphasizes the need for heightened awareness of Alaskapox's risks, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. Health officials recognize the virus's more extensive geographical spread than initially perceived, urging vigilance and caution, especially for those with compromised immune systems.

Alaskapox: Transmission and Symptoms

Alaskapox is an orthopoxvirus, which can infect mammals, including humans, causing skin lesions. Orthopoxviruses, which include smallpox and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), are known to be zoonotic, meaning they primarily circulate within animal populations and occasionally spill over into humans.

Julia Rogers, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes the zoonotic nature of orthopoxviruses, indicating their prevalence in animal populations.

The Alaska Division of Public Health reports that Alaskapox has been primarily identified in small animals in the Fairbanks area, specifically shrews and red-backed voles. Zoonotic diseases, like Alaskapox, pose a risk of transmission from animals to humans.

The emergence of related viruses, such as mpox, reinforces the potential for zoonotic diseases to become more common, echoing concerns expressed by experts about diseases like COVID-19.

Patients infected with Alaskapox typically exhibit symptoms such as one or more skin lesions, accompanied by swollen lymph nodes and joint or muscle pain. The understanding of Alaskapox's prevalence in small animals and its zoonotic nature highlights the importance of monitoring and studying such viruses to prevent potential outbreaks and ensure public health safety.

Is Human-to-Human Transmission of Alaskapox Possible?

The method of transmission for Alaskapox remains uncertain, with no confirmed human-to-human cases reported. While some orthopoxviruses can spread through skin lesions, the exact transmission route of Alaskapox from animals to humans is unknown.

Contact with small mammals, and potentially domestic pets in contact with these mammals, might be involved in the transmission process. To mitigate risks, health officials advise individuals with potential Alaskapox lesions to cover them with a bandage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends maintaining a safe distance from wildlife and practicing hand hygiene after outdoor activities.

The geographical spread of Alaskapox has expanded beyond Fairbanks, with the recent case occurring in the Kenai Peninsula. The Alaska Section of Epidemiology, in collaboration with the CDC and the University of Alaska Museum, is conducting tests on small mammals to better understand the virus's prevalence.

State health officials are proactively encouraging Alaska's medical professionals to familiarize themselves with Alaskapox symptoms and promptly report suspected cases to the Section of Epidemiology.

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