Recently, the first death of an elderly man from a virus related to smallpox was reported, which has been called Alaska smallpox, or Alaskapox (AKPV).

The victim was being treated for cancer and, because of this, she had immunosuppression, which may be related to the worsening of the disease, according to The Guardian.

The virus

Belonging to the genus Orthopoxvirus, which also includes human smallpox (smallpox), mpox (monkeypox) and bovine smallpox (cowpox), AKPV was initially identified in 2015, in Fairbanks, in the state of Alaska (USA).

According to the Alaska Department of Health, six other cases have been recorded in the state, since then, five of them in Fairbanks and one in the Kenai Peninsula. Symptoms of the disease include:

• Skin lesions (swelling or pustules);
• Swollen lymph nodes (“tongues“);
• Joint and/or muscle pain;

Also, immunocompromised or immunosuppressed people may have risks for the serious disease.

Transmission

The AKPV circulates in small mammals, and sampling from some regions of Fairbanks reveal that rats and some species of shrews can transmit it. However, domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, can also be susceptible and contribute to the spread of the virus.

To date, no transmission between humans of the Alaskapox virus has been documented – Alaska Department of Health

Although there is no record of the transmission between humans of AKPV, from the knowledge of other Poxviruses, such as human smallpox and mpox, it is possible that contact with infected skin lesions may bring risks.

Although we have only the record of six cases, it is likely that more infections may have occurred and have been underreported, according to the Alaska Department of Health, due to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases.

The case

It was reported that the victim had contact with a stray cat, who “regularly hunted small mammals and often scratched the patient”.

Although the animal tested negative at the time of the analysis, it is possible that it may have transmitted the virus, according to the epidemiological bulletin.

Risk analysis

Experts argue, in a recent publication, that this is the first detected case of AKPV outside the interior region of Alaska (Fairbanks), which may suggest a greater geographical spread of the virus in small mammals than previously thought.

However, we still have few cases of the disease, and the risk of global spread still seems to be low, but it serves as a warning and awareness so that health professionals and the local population can be aware of signs and symptoms compatible with the disease, in addition to a screening with testing and surveillance for the virus.

Important recommendations

Since the documented transmission is zoonotic, that is, from the contagion by animals (such as small mammals, for example), it is important that the population avoids this type of exposure.

Inadequate, proper hand hygiene, avoiding sharing clothes that may be contaminated with the secretions of injuries, can be useful to prevent the transmission of several poxviruses.