"First Fatal Case of Alaskapox Virus Reported in Alaska"

Alaska reports its first fatal case of Alaskapox, a novel orthopox virus, in a man with an underlying health condition living on the Kenai Peninsula. This marks the state's seventh Alaskapox case and the first located outside of the Fairbanks area. The man's immunocompromised status likely contributed to the severity of the disease, which was linked to a stray cat that frequently scratched him. The case highlights the need for increased awareness among clinicians and ongoing testing of small mammals to gauge the prevalence of Alaskapox.