Alaska health officials have confirmed the first fatal case of Alaskapox – a recently discovered viral disease.
An elderly immunocompromised man from the Kenai peninsula, south of Anchorage, died while undergoing treatment in late January, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
She is one of seven reported Alaskapox infections, the Alaska Department of Public Health said in an announcement Friday.
“People are not necessarily worried but more aware,” said Julia Rogers, state epidemiologist. “So we hope to make doctors more aware of the Alaskapox virus, so they can identify the signs and symptoms.”
The double-stranded DNA virus, which comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox, was first identified in adults in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2015. It is most common in small mammals, such as shrews and voles.
The fatal case, the first identified outside of the interior of Alaska, took months to diagnose, as previous cases of Alaskapox have shown only mild symptoms in patients – usually a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes.
Alaskapox lesions about 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Alaska Department of Health The disease is usually a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes. Alaska Department of Health The double-stranded DNA virus, which comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox, was first identified in adults in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2015. Alaska Department of Health
Other patients who have been diagnosed with the virus do not require treatment, but they all have healthy immune systems, health officials said.
Officials said the man’s immunocompromised condition may have contributed to his death. How he contracted the virus remains unclear.
The man lives alone in the forest and has not reported any recent travels. Officials say it’s possible she got Alaskapox from a cat she lives with that regularly hunts small mammals and scratches them when her symptoms start.
The cat tested negative for the virus – but it may have spread from its claws.
In September, the man noticed a red lump in his right armpit and was given antibiotics. But six weeks later, the symptoms only worsened and included fatigue and pain.
Alaska pox is most common in small mammals, such as lizards, including the Northern Red-backed Vole. Alaska Department of Health Symptoms of Alaskapox include one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain. Alaska Department of Health
He was hospitalized in Anchorage and underwent a “battery of tests” in December and tested positive for cowpox. Additional testing by the Centers for Disease Control revealed it was actually Alaskapox.
His condition initially improved a week after intravenous medication, but he died in late January after suffering kidney and respiratory failure, health officials said.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
