News that an elderly man in Alaska has died from Alaskapox — the first known fatality, according to state health officials — has brought newfound attention to the recently discovered virus.
The man, who lived in the remote Kenai Peninsula and had a suppressed immune system due to cancer treatments, was hospitalized in November and died in late January, according to a bulletin released Friday by Alaska public health officials.
Alaskapox, also known as AKPV, is part of a group of viruses called orthopoxviruses , which infect mammals and cause skin lesions, according to the Alaska Department of Health .
First discovered in 2015, Alaskapox is related to smallpox, cowpox and mpox , officials said.
Though it’s unclear how the man contracted the virus, officials said it’s possible that it could be linked to a stray cat that lived with him.
The news comes as health officials in Oregon recently confirmed a rare case of human plague in a resident who was likely infected by their pet cat.