Alaska Man Dies From "Alaskapox"

An elderly man in Alaska has died from Alaskapox, the first known fatality from the recently discovered virus, state health officials said. It's unclear how the man contracted the virus but officials say it's possible that it could be linked to a stray cat that lived with him.

The man, who lived in the remote Kenai Peninsula, was hospitalized last November and died in late January, according to a bulletin released Friday from Alaska public health officials.

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. Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness, officials said.

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 from the Kenai Peninsula, health officials said. All had mild cases and recovered without being hospitalized.