An elderly man from Alaska recently became the first person to die after contracting Alaskapox.
About Alaskapox:
It is an orthopox virus that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015.
It is a double-stranded DNA virusbelonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans.
Current evidence indicates that the Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals. The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms of Alaskapox include one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain.
Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness.
Can people with Alaskapox infect other people?
While human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox has not yet been observed, some orthopoxviruses can spread by direct contact with lesions (particularly broken skin contact with lesion secretions).
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