What is ‘Alaskapox’?

The first known fatal case of Alaskapox, an orthopox virus identified in 2015, was a man from Alaska. It is a DNA virus that mainly affects small mammals and is related to the cowpox, monkeypox, and smallpox viruses. Skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, and muscle soreness are some of the symptoms; mild cases typically go away in a few weeks. Although there has not been any evidence of human-to-human transmission, orthopoxviruses can spread by direct contact with lesions. People with weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to serious illness.