The initial recorded fatality from the Alaskapox virus is a man from Alaska, and there is a potential connection to a stray cat in terms of exposure.
Alaska health officials have reported the first known fatality from Alaskapox, a recently discovered virus, involving an elderly man on the remote Kenai Peninsula.
The man, undergoing cancer treatment with a suppressed immune system, was hospitalized in November and succumbed to the illness in late January.
While the source of the virus remains unclear, there is speculation that it might be connected to a stray cat that shared his living space.
The bulletin released by Alaska public health officials on Friday did not disclose the man's exact age but emphasized the potential impact of his compromised immune system on the severity of the illness.
Health officials have identified Alaskapox, also known as AKPV, as a virus related to smallpox, cowpox, and mpox.
Common symptoms encompass a rash, swollen lymph nodes, and joint or muscle pain.
Individuals with compromised immune systems may face an elevated risk of experiencing more severe illness.
Alaska has reported only six other cases of Alaskapox since the first one emerged in 2015, all of which were situated in the Fairbanks area, over 300 miles away from the Kenai Peninsula.
In these instances, individuals had mild cases and successfully recovered without requiring hospitalization.
The deceased man, who lived in isolation in a wooded area, had no recent travel history and no close contacts with individuals exhibiting travel-related illnesses or similar lesions, as outlined in the health bulletin.
There is a potential connection between the virus and a cat :
The transmission mechanism of AKPV remains unclear, but researchers suggest it might be zoonotic, indicating the potential for transmission from animals to humans.
Tests conducted in the Fairbanks area revealed evidence of current or past infection in various small mammal species, including red-backed voles, and at least one domestic pet.
The deceased man reported caring for a stray cat at his residence, according to the bulletin.
Although the cat tested negative for the virus, it was noted that the cat regularly hunted small mammals and frequently scratched the patient.
This raises the possibility that the cat may have carried the virus on its claws when it scratched the man, with a "notable" scratch near the armpit area where the first symptom, a red lesion, was observed.
The specific route of exposure in this case remains uncertain, although officials acknowledge that scratches from the stray cat could be a potential source.
Health authorities emphasize that there have been no documented cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
Nonetheless, they advise caution for individuals with skin lesions, recommending that those affected keep the area covered with a bandage and refrain from sharing bedding or linens that have come into contact with the lesion.
Additionally, health officials urge Alaskans to adhere to federal health precautions when in proximity to wildlife to minimize the risk of Alaskapox infections.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap and water after contact with wild animals or their feces.
Hunters are advised to wear gloves when handling dead animals, even if freshly killed.
This development coincides with recent reports of a rare case of human plague in Oregon, where health officials suspect the infection may have been transmitted by a pet cat.
