Alaskapox virus

Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans; vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox; and Mpox.Vacciniampox.Vaccinia virus was used as a vaccine for smallpox in humans after it was discovered in the late eighteenth century by Dr. Edward Jenner that milkmaids exposed to cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox. Smallpox vaccination is protective against other OPXV species. Smallpox is estimated to have killed 300-500 million people in the twentieth century and was eradicated by 1977. An increase in OPXV infections, noted around 2019, has been attributed to waning population immunity due to the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after smallpox was eradicated.

Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans; vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox; and monkeypox virus.VacciniaMpox.Vaccinia virus was used as a vaccine for smallpox in humans after it was discovered in the late eighteenth century by Dr. Edward Jenner that milkmaids exposed to cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox. Smallpox vaccination is protective against other OPXV species. Smallpox is estimated to have killed 300-500 million people in the twentieth century and was eradicated by 1977. An increase in OPXV infections, noted around 2019, has been attributed to waning population immunity due to the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after smallpox was eradicated.

The OPXV genus contains two distinct clades of viruses based on genomic sequence similarity, which correlates to historic geographic distribution in either the Old World or New World. The AKPV DNA sequence isolated in 2015 was analysed at nine conserved genes and was sufficiently divergent from Old World and New World OPXV gene sequences to form a distinct clade. Most orthopox viruses are thought to have originated from an ancestor or cowpox virus. Alaskapox virus is thought to have separated from its orthopox virusorthopoxvirus ancestor about 19,000 years ago.

Alaskapox virus (AKPV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) genus, which is within the Poxviridae family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a broad range of animal hosts from insects to vertebrates.

Alaskapox virus (AKPV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) genus, which is within the Poxviridae family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a broad range of animal hosts from insects to vertebrates. AKPV was first identified from a shoulder lesion on a woman from Fairbanks, Alaska, USA in July 2015. The virus was initially called AK2015, then later named Alaskapox virus. Further cases in Fairbanks occurred in 2020 and 2021 to make up a total of four, which all presented with a small lesion on an extremity. All affected individuals completely recovered. Common reported symptoms of AKPV infection include fever, swollen lyph nodes (lymphadenopathy), muscle pain and fatigue, with symptoms.

The four cases reported as of September 2021 were reported to reside in low-density housing in forested areas. Evidence for human-to-human transmission has not been found. Animal-to-human transmission, potentially from small mammals, is suggested. AKPV was found to be carried by small animals including voles caught in near where some of the affectedresidences of peopleindividuals livedthat had been infected. Human exposure is thought to have occurred through their pet cats or direct exposure outdoors. Physicians have recommended that people cover wounds with bandages since other pox viruses can spread by direct contact with skin lesions.

Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include Variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans, Vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox, and Monkeypox virus. Vaccinia virus was used as a vaccine for smallpox in humans after it was discovered in the late 18th century by Dr. Edward Jenner that milkmaids exposed to cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox. Smallpox vaccination is protective against other OPXV species. Smallpox is estimated to have killed 300-500 million people in the 20th century and was eradicated by 1977. An increase in OPXV infections, noted around 2019, has been attributed to waning population immunity due to discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after smallpox was eradicated.

The OPXV genus contains two distinct clades of viruses based on genomic sequence similarity, which correlates to historic geographic distribution in either the Old World or New World. The AKPV DNA sequence isolated in 2015 was analysed at nine conserved genes and was sufficiently divergent from Old World and New World OPXV gene sequences to form a distinct clade. Most orthopox viruses are thought to have originated from an ancestor or cowpox virus. Alaskapox virus is thought to have separated from its orthopox virus ancestor about 19,000 years ago.

AKPV was first identified from a shoulder lesion on a woman from Fairbanks, Alaska, USA in July 2015. The virus was initially called AK2015, then later named Alaskapox virus. Four furtherFurther cases in Fairbanks occurred in 2020 and 2021 to make up a total of four, which all presented with a small lesion on an extremity. Common reported symptoms of AKPV infection include fever, swollen lyph nodes (lymphadenopathy), muscle pain and fatigue, with symptoms.

Alaskapox virus (AKPV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) genus, which is within the Poxviridae family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a broad range of animal hosts from insects to vertebrates. Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include Variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans, Vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox, and Monkeypox virus.

AKPV was first identified from a shoulder lesion on a woman from Fairbanks, Alaska, USA in July 2015. The virus was initially called AK2015, then later named Alaskapox virus. Four further cases in Fairbanks occurred in 2020 and 2021 which presented with a small lesion on an extremity. Common reported symptoms of AKPV infection include fever, swollen lyph nodes (lymphadenopathy), muscle pain and fatigue, with symptoms.

The four cases reported as of September 2021 reside in low-density housing in forested areas. Evidence for human-to-human transmission has not been found. Animal-to-human transmission, potentially from small mammals, is suggested. AKPV was found to be carried by small animals including voles caught in near where some of the affected people lived. Human exposure is thought to have occurred through their pet cats or direct exposure outdoors. Physicians have recommended that people cover wounds with bandages since other pox viruses can spread by direct contact with skin lesions.

Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include Variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans, Vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox, and Monkeypox virus. Vaccinia virus was used as a vaccine for smallpox in humans after it was discovered in the late 18th century by Dr. Edward Jenner that milkmaids exposed to cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox. Smallpox vaccination is protective against other OPXV species. An increase in OPXV infections, noted around 2019, has been attributed to waning population immunity due to discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after smallpox was eradicated.

Alaskapox virus (AKPV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) genus, which is within the Poxviridae family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a broad range of animal hosts from insects to vertebrates. Poxviruses in the OPXV genus include Variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans, Vaccinia virus, which causes cowpox, and Monkeypox virus.

Vaccinia virus was used as a vaccine for smallpox in humans after it was discovered in the late 18th century by Dr. Edward Jenner that milkmaids exposed to cowpox seemed to be immune to smallpox. Smallpox vaccination is protective against other OPXV species. An increase in OPXV infections, noted around 2019, has been attributed to waning population immunity due to discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination after smallpox was eradicated.

The OPXV genus contains two distinct clades of viruses based on genomic sequence similarity, which correlates to historic geographic distribution in either the Old World or New World. The AKPV DNA sequence isolated in 2015 was analysed at nine conserved genes and was sufficiently divergent from Old World and New World OPXV gene sequences to form a distinct clade.