CrackitToday App

Alaskapox : Orthopox Virus

Alaskapox : Orthopox Virus

An elderly man from Alaska recently became the first person to die after contracting Alaskapox.

  • Alaskapox is an orthopox virus that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015.
  • It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
  • Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans.
  • Current evidence indicates that the Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals.
  • The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews.
  • Symptoms of Alaskapox include one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain.
  • Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
  • Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness.
Score 120+ in Prelims