An elderly man from the remote Kenai Peninsula in Alaska has become the first known fatality from the recently discovered Alaskapox virus, according to state health officials. The man, who lived alone in a forested area, was hospitalized in November and died in late January. It is unclear how he contracted the virus, but officials believe it is possible that a stray cat that lived with him could be linked to the transmission. The man was undergoing cancer treatment and had a suppressed immune system, which may have contributed to the severity of his illness.

Alaskapox, also known as AKPV, is related to smallpox, cowpox, and mpox. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can jump from animals to humans. Symptoms of the virus include a rash, swollen lymph nodes, and joint or muscle pain. Immunocompromised individuals may be at increased risk for more severe illness.

Since the first case in 2015, only six other cases of Alaskapox have been reported to Alaska health officials. All of these cases were in the Fairbanks area, more than 300 miles from the Kenai Peninsula. However, these cases were all mild, and the individuals recovered without being hospitalized.

The man who died "resided alone in a forested area and reported no recent travel and no close contacts with recent travel, illness, or similar lesions," according to the health bulletin. Tests found evidence of current or previous infection in several species of small mammals in the Fairbanks area, including red-backed voles, and at least one domestic pet. The man had cared for a stray cat at his home, which regularly hunted small mammals and frequently scratched him. Although the cat tested negative for the virus, the possibility remains that it had the virus on its claws when it scratched him.

Health officials have not documented any cases of humans passing on the virus, but they advise caution for individuals with skin lesions potentially caused by Alaskapox. They recommend keeping the affected area covered with a bandage and avoiding sharing bedding or other linens that have come into contact with the lesion.

The news of the Alaskapox fatality 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.