Man dies in first known fatal case of Alaskapox

A man has died in Alaska after being infected with Alaskapox, health officials have revealed. The man was the first known person to test positive for the virus, which causes severe illness in some people. The man's death was confirmed by the State of Alaska on Thursday.

Officials say the man was an elderly individual residing in Fairbanks, Alaska, and was admitted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on February 11 with a severe respiratory illness. He was transferred to Anchorage, Alaska, where he later died.

Further investigations are underway to determine the cause of death and possible contacts the deceased may have had with other people.

At this time, officials have disclosed that the man had no travel history outside of Alaska in the weeks prior to showing symptoms. They are asking any individuals who may have been in contact with the man to report any symptoms to medical providers.

The virus is not believed to be airborne, officials said. However, the CDC says that airborne transmission cannot be ruled out and that some viruses can stay in the air for hours after an infected person has left a room.

Alaskapox is a orthopoxvirus of the Poxviridae family, which includes smallpox. The virus is typically seen in small animals, such as foxes, and has been found in Alaska's small wild animal population. The virus does not normally cause illness in humans.

However, earlier this month, officials said that a man had tested positive for Alaskapox. At the time, they said that the man was experiencing symptoms of the virus, but was not sick enough to require hospitalization.

The man, who was not identified by officials, became the first person in Alaska to test positive for the virus since the beginning of winter. At the time, officials said that the man had a travel history within Alaska, and that they were investigating any potential exposure to other people.

Alaskapox was first identified in Alaska in 1977 and is found primarily in small animals throughout the state. The virus has been detected in foxes, wolves, and other small animals in Alaska.

The virus is not known to cause illness in humans, and there are no documented cases of it spreading from one person to another. Typically, Alaskapox is only dangerous to humans if the virus escapes from a lab, or if a person is actively working with the virus.