Alaskapox, a Zoonotic Virus, Emerges in Alaska – Seven Cases Reported, one dies.
In 2015, health officials discovered Alaskapox (AKPV), a double-stranded DNA virus, in a woman near Fairbanks, Alaska. AKPV, an orthopoxvirus like smallpox, primarily circulates among state mammals, occasionally transmitting to humans.
Symptoms include skin bumps, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Seven cases have been reported in Alaska since 2015, with the latest in a man from the Kenai Peninsula, who died in late January.
Believed to spread through contact with infected animals, no human-to-human transmission has been documented. However, caution is advised, as similar viruses can spread through lesions.
The elderly man’s case involved caring for a stray cat, possibly the source. AKPV usually results in mild illnesses, but the man’s weakened immune system due to cancer treatment contributed to the severity.
While the virus has been contained within Alaska so far, officials are investigating its prevalence. Safety measures include maintaining distance from wildlife, handwashing, and covering lesions.
The Alaska Division of Public Health emphasizes the importance of testing and understanding the virus’s distribution in animal populations throughout the state.
As of now, the possibility of the virus spreading beyond Alaska remains uncertain, but officials stress vigilance to prevent transmission through contact with infected animals.
