Alaska state health officials say an elderly man has died from Alaskapox.

The man was undergoing cancer treatment and had a suppressed immune system because of the drugs, which may have contributed to the severity of his illness, the bulletin said. It described him as elderly but didn’t provide his age.

Alaskapox, also known as AKPV, is related to smallpox, cowpox and mpox, health officials said. Symptoms can include a rash, swollen lymph nodes and joint or muscle pain.

Only six other cases of the virus have been reported to Alaska health officials since the first one in 2015. All involved people were living in the Fairbanks area, more than 300 miles (483 kilometers) from the Kenai Peninsula, health officials said.

    • Norgur
      2•9 months ago

      There is nothing at all suggesting that this virus is some frozen zombie virus the panic-mills at sciency bullshit outlets want you to fear. Nothing at all. Orthopox are one of many strands of viruses that sweep back and forth our globe with varying target species and varying severity. Just like influenza, corona, rhino, etc.