The first person died of smallpox in Alaska

According to the Alaska Department of Health, the man was admitted to Fairbanks Hospital in late November with painful red bumps in his armpits. It is “unclear” how the patient came into contact with the virus. However, the man reported that he had been caring for a stray cat that had scratched him. The virus may have been transmitted.

The patient died in hospital at the end of January
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the man ultimately died of kidney and lung failure in late January. “The man’s immune system was weakened by cancer and he was therefore particularly vulnerable,” epidemiologist Julia Rogers told the Anchorage Daily News.

Doctors and hospitals in Alaska have been ordered by health authorities to test for suspected smallpox in Alaska and to immediately report any new cases. Symptoms of the disease include one or more skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain.

Mice and pets as virus hosts
Initial findings indicate that the Alaska pox virus mainly occurs in small mammals. The virus has so far been most commonly found in voles (pictured above) and shrews, and pets (such as cats and dogs) may also play a role in its spread, it is said.

To date, no human-to-human transmission of the Alaskapox virus has been documented. However, according to the Alaska Department of Health, the disease can be transmitted through direct contact with the skin lesions. It recommends that people with “skin lesions possibly caused by Alaskan smallpox should cover the affected area with a bandage.”