First death from new Alaska smallpox virus reported. The disease, related to smallpox, causes skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes and muscle pain.
“Immunocompromised people may be at risk for more severe disease,” health authorities say. So far, no human-to-human transmission of the virus has been reported or documented, however, some orthopoxviruses "can be transmitted by direct contact with skin lesions," Alaska Department of Health says. The authorities urge doctors to become familiar with the disease to be able to distinguish its first signs or symptoms.