First Ever Death Recorded by Alaskapox Virus in Kenai Peninsula
A man from the Kenai Peninsula, to the southwest of Anchorage, died of the recently discovered disease Alaskapox, officials have said. His death is the first ever recorded death by Alaskapox virus.
In a bulletin on Friday, the Alaska Department of Health said the elderly man, who had a history of drug-induced immunosuppression because of cancer treatment, had died in late January after first exhibiting possible symptoms of the disease in mid-September.
The deceased individual, a solitary resident of a wooded area in the Kenai Peninsula, frequently interacted with a stray cat known for scratching him and hunting small mammals. Although the cat tested negative for AKPV, caution in handling small mammals was advised, including wearing gloves and thorough handwashing.
The Alaska Department of Health said that after the elderly man noticed the raised spot on his armpit, he visited his primary healthcare provider and the local emergency department several times over six weeks, and was prescribed various antibiotics. Despite this, he began to experience increased pain in his armpit and a hardening of the spot.
He was hospitalized on November 17 because the “extensive progression” of his illness was impeding movement of his arm, before being transferred to another hospital in Anchorage, where he began to complain of a burning sensation.
A comprehensive range of tests was then performed, which initially came back positive for cowpox, but more advanced testing ruled this out along with other poxes and similar viruses—but not Alaskapox. Testing by the CDC later found his condition was consistent with the emerging virus.
Despite seeing an improvement in his health after a week of targeted treatment, the elderly man exhibited delayed wound healing, malnutrition, kidney failure and respiratory failure before dying.
The Alaska Department of Health said that because the case occurred outside the Fairbanks area, it suggested the virus “appears to be more geographically widespread in Alaska’s small mammals than previously known and warrants increased statewide awareness.”
What is Alaskapox
Discovered in Alaska in 2015, Alaskapox is categorized among orthopox viruses, akin to smallpox, cowpox, and monkeypox. It is the most common in small mammals. Dr. Julia Rogers, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assigned to the Alaska Division of Public Health, noted that AKPV predominantly affects animals. After the discovery of Alaskapox, this is the first ever recorded death by this virus.
According to the State of Alaska’s website, “To date, no human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox virus has been documented. However, since certain orthopoxviruses can be transmitted through direct contact with skin lesions, we recommend that people with skin lesions possibly caused by Alaskapox keep the affected area covered with a bandage.”
Is Alaskapox Fatal ?
The official website of the Alaska Division of Public Health says, “Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks. There has been one patient with an immunocompromising condition that developed severe disease and his death is the first ever recorded death by Alaskapox after prolonged illness.”
The man was among the only seven people infected with Alaskapox. “People should not necessarily be concerned but more aware,” said Julia Rogers, a state epidemiologist, reported New York Post.
“So we’re hoping to make clinicians more aware of what Alaskapox virus is so that they can identify signs and symptoms,” she added.
In the deceased man’s case, it took several months to diagnose the fatal case. As per the authorities, the patient’s immunocompromised condition might have led to his death. However, it is still unclear how he contracted the disease.
Doctors speculate that he might’ve contracted Alaskapox from the cat he lived up to, as he lived alone in the woods and did not travel recently. The symptoms began after the cat, which often hunted small mammals, scratched him. Although the cat tested negative for the virus, health officials believe it spread from its claws.
In December, the health officials ran some tests on the man and initially detected cowpox. However, after additional testing, the Centers for Disease Control revealed it was Alaskapox.
