Man Dies in First Fatal Case of Alaskapox—Here’s What to Know About the Virus
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
[table-of-contents] stripped
Seven cases of Alaskapox have been reported in Alaska.
Alaskapox, first documented in 2015, is a virus that can cause small lesions on the skin.
Experts explain signs, symptoms, treatments, and what you need to know about the spread of Alaskapox.
A human case of the Bubonic plague, allegedly from a cat, already has the Pacific Northwest on edge. Now, a rare virus has been reported in Alaska, appropriately called Alaskapox. The Alaskapox virus was first identified in a patient in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2015, and since then, six additional cases have been reported in the area. While the disease has a small number of documented cases so far, after news broke of the first reported death from the virus, it’s understandable to be concerned.
Meet the Experts: Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; David Cennimo, M.D., infectious disease expert and associate professor of medicine & pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.
And with so many circulating viruses (COVID, RSV, and the flu to name a few), it’s essential to know Alaskapox symptoms, treatment methods, and prevention. Ahead, experts explain everything you need to know about the virus.
What is Alaskapox?
Alaskapox is an orthopoxvirus that was fairly recently discovered in Alaska, says David Cennimo, M.D., infectious disease expert and associate professor of medicine & pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Probably the most famous orthopoxvirus was smallpox and most recently we had the epidemic of Mpox (Monkeypox),” he notes.
Alaskapox is a virus found in small mammals, such as voles and shrews, that has been described exclusively in Alaska, says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. In the original case, a woman in Fairbanks, Alaska had a pox-like lesion on her shoulder with fever and tender lymph nodes, says Dr. Cennimo. “In retrospect, she likely had small animal exposure,” he adds.
Alaskapox symptoms
Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, says symptoms may include:
Small lesions on the skin
Muscle and joint aches
How do you get Alaskapox?
It’s believed that Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals. It is not known to be transmissible from human to human, but is transmissible from animal to human, says Dr. Adalja. Meaning, you probably won’t catch Alaskapox from another person, but you could contract the virus from an infected animal.
While there have been no known human-to-human transmissions so far, it’s important to know that other orthopoxviruses, like Mpox and smallpox, are spread through close contact, so it is possible, says Dr. Cennimo.
Is Alaskapox fatal?
There have only been seven cases of Alaskapox documented in humans so far, and most cases have been mild and resolved after a few weeks, says Dr. Watkins. “Only one fatal case has been reported, in an elderly man who was receiving treatment for cancer and immunocompromised.”
How to treat Alaskapox
At this time, there is no specific treatment for Alaskapox. However, it may be the case that medications used against mpox (tecovirimat) have activity against this virus since they are somewhat similar, says Dr. Adalja. “And regarding treatment, note that the fatal case was immunocompromised, so he received multiple treatments (but that would not be the case in someone who was not immunocompromised).”
If you think you might have Alaskapox, see your primary care physician, advises Dr. Watkins.
How to prevent Alaskapox
Alaskapox is a disease of animals that can spill into humans, so one should be careful when handling voles or shrews, says Dr. Adalja. It’s also a good idea to avoid contact with small wild animals and feral cats, says Dr. Watkins.
To prevent the spread of the virus, those infected are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene, avoid sharing clothing that may have had contact with the lesions, and launder clothing and linens separately from other household items, says Dr. Watkins.
Has Alaskapox been seen outside of Alaska?
At this time, there have been seven documented cases of Alaskapox, all reported within Alaska, says Dr. Cennimo. “At this point, I do not think the average person, especially outside of Alaska, needs to be concerned,” he notes.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the Alaska Department of Health to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
You Might Also Like
