"First Recorded Death from Alaskapox Virus Confirmed in Alaska"

An elderly man from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska has become the first person to die from Alaskapox, a recently discovered zoonotic disease thought to be carried by small woodland animals like squirrels. The man, who had a history of drug-induced immunosuppression due to cancer treatment, had been scratched by a stray cat he cared for before developing symptoms. Despite initial misdiagnoses, advanced testing by the CDC confirmed the presence of Alaskapox. The case suggests the virus may be more geographically widespread in Alaska's small mammals than previously known, prompting increased statewide awareness.