What to know about Alaskapox after officials report first known fatal case

Health officials in Alaska have reported the first known death linked to a recently discovered virus known as Alaskapox. Since its discovery in 2015, there have been seven reported cases of Alaskapox infections, with the most recent case resulting in the death of an elderly man. The virus is primarily found in small mammal populations in Alaska and is typically mild in humans. However, in this case, the man had a weakened immune system due to cancer treatment, which likely contributed to the severity of the infection. There is still much unknown about the virus, including its transmission and origins.