First person in world dies of new virus after contact with cat

The first person in the world died from the new Alaskapox virus (AKPV) in the Kenai Peninsula of the US state of Alaska. The Alaskan health department informed about the man's death.

This American's immunity was weakened due to cancer treatment. He lived alone in a forest and interacted with a homeless cat, which, according to him, constantly clawed at him and hunted small mammals. The animal's AKPV test result was negative.

The AKPV was first discovered in 2015

The Alaskapox virus was discovered in this US state in 2015, and its symptoms are similar to those of chickenpox. Cases of infection with AKPV have been confirmed in only six people, all of them in central Alaska, in the area of the city of Fairbanks. All infections occurred as a result of contact with animals.

According to epidemiologist Dr. Julia Rogers, animals are first infected with the virus. She expects that the cases of AKPV will be rare, and deaths from it among people with a weak immune system are not very likely. The expert believes that the virus is most likely transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal. Rogers emphasized that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the infection.

Epidemiologists don't know about how people get infected with AKPV

Local authorities tested the presence of AKPV in small mammals, and the virus was found mainly in red Arvicolinae  and squirrels. Since cases of this infection are very few, epidemiologists still do not know exactly how people can become infected with this virus.

Moreover, the AKPV strain found in the aforesaid Kenai Peninsula resident is different from the strain found among people and animals in interior Alaska. The latter’s health department officials believe this may indicate that the virus is more widespread in Alaska than previously thought, and are working with the University of Alaska Museum and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention towards testing for AKPV in small mammals outside the central regions of the state.

Epidemiologist Dr. Ben Westley warned that the symptoms of the Alaskapox virus can be a rash and swollen lymph nodes.

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