First case of fatal Alaskapox infection reported

Alaskapox virus is a recently discovered orthopoxvirus first identified in an adult living near Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2015. Previous infections have ranged from mild to severe, but none were deadly until now.

Officials from Alaska’s health department said the man was more susceptible as he was immunocompromised following cancer treatment.  Evidence suggests it is zoonotic — a disease that jumps from animals into humans — as it is can be found in small mammals like red-backed voles and shrews.

Read more: State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin

 

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