An elderly man on the Kenai Peninsula (south coast of Alaska) has died from Alaskapox virus, making him the first person killed by the viral disease. It was only detected nine years ago.

This is not only the first human death, but also the first documented human infection outside of the Fairbanks area (central Alaska), indicating that the virus, known to be transmitted by small mammals, spread spread beyond the wild population of this local society.

A patient with a weakened immune system

According to a bulletin issued by the Epidemiology Section of the Alaska State Division of Public Health, the patient, whose immune system had been weakened by cancer treatment, first reported signs of he infection in September when a sensitive lesion appeared under his armpit. The infection was getting worse and after six weeks of emergency room visits as the patient’s condition deteriorated, he was admitted to a local hospital. As his condition worsened and his arm movements diminished, he was transferred to a hospital in Anchorage. The bulletin said numerous tests were necessary to identify the infection.

The patient suffered, among other things: kidney failure, respiratory failure and malnutrition – he died at the end of January.

Wooded areas favor infection

The so-called Alaskan smallpox is a disease caused by viruses from the orthopox group. They are linked to other, more dangerous viruses – causing smallpox and mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Like other smallpox viruses, the virus that causes Alaskan smallpox persists and spreads through populations of small mammals. Particularly visible carriers are voles, which live almost everywhere in Alaska.

The first human case of Alaskapox infection was detected in 2015 in the Fairbanks area. Another case occurred in 2020. According to state officials, there were two more in 2021, one in 2022 and one last year. The Kenai Peninsula case is the seventh case identified.

Common to all infection stories was the forest nature of patients’ homes and contact with pets – cats and dogs. The recently deceased patient was caring for a stray cat.

The documented effects of Alaskapox infection in humans have been fairly mild, including symptoms such as rash, fever, and fatigue. None of these patients had any significant medical history, including immunocompromising illnesses.

The virus is not transmitted from person to person

Alaskan pox is one of many zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can spread between animal species and humans. Alaskapox can be transmitted to humans through contact with an infected animal. However, it has not been demonstrated that this virus can then be transmitted from person to person.

It is not known exactly how long Alaskapox has been present in the environment. However, there are signs that it has been circulating among small mammal populations for decades. Link Olson, curator of mammals at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, reported that tests showed the presence of the virus in a 25-year-old vole specimen belonging to the museum’s collection.

Museum scientists, working with the state Department of Epidemiology and other organizations, launched a testing program using Alaskan animal specimens. Later, when weather permits, trapping of small mammals in the wild will take place.

Olson said there’s a good chance Alaskapox will be detected in animal populations far beyond state lines and even beyond North America.

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