What to Know About Rare Virus Alaskapox After 1st Fatal Case

An Alaska resident has died from complications of a relatively new and rare virus known as Alaskapox. The Alaskapox virus was first identified in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2015, according to the Alaska Department of Health. Since then, there have been only seven cases reported in the state, according to the state health department.

This is the first case of an Alaskapox infection resulting in hospitalization and death ever reported. Public health officials in Alaska are recommending doctors become familiar with the signs and symptoms of the virus and consider testing for patients they may suspect contracted the illness. Read more from ABC here.