An elderly man from Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, has become the first person to die from Alaskapox, a newly identified viral disease that is transmitted by small mammals, such as rodents and shrews.
The man, whose name has not been revealed, died in late January at a hospital in Anchorage, where he was treated for Alaskapox infection and its complications, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
The man had a history of a drug-induced weakened immune system, which likely contributed to the severity of his illness, the department said. He also reported caring for a stray cat at his home, which had scratched him on his arm, possibly causing the transmission of the virus.
Prior to his death, he developed a red bump in his armpit in September 2023, and was given antibiotics by his primary care provider. However, his symptoms worsened over time, and he experienced fatigue, increased pain, and reduced mobility in his arm.
He was transferred to a hospital in Anchorage in December 2023, where he underwent several tests and procedures. One of the tests showed a positive result for cowpox, a related virus that causes similar symptoms in humans. However, further analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the man was infected with Alaskapox, a distinct virus that belongs to the same family as cowpox and smallpox.
The man’s condition improved after receiving intravenous medications, but he later suffered from delayed wound healing, respiratory failure, and kidney failure, resulting in his death.
The man was the seventh confirmed case of Alaskapox infection in humans, and the first fatal one. The first case was reported by scientists in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2015, in a woman who had a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes. All previous cases were mild and did not require hospitalization.
