The specialist called the symptoms of the virus, which was dubbed “Alaskan smallpox”

The doctor told Pravda. Ru for whom the infection discovered in Alaska may be dangerous and what precautions are effective against the virus.

According to an expert from our publication, Alaskapox is far from a new virus. It was known about it back in 2015. Over the years, infections have been confirmed in six people. One of them died. The infection is said to occur from infected animals.

“Such cases when animal pox viruses cause very severe and fatal cases in people, usually immunodeficient, are rare, but they are a regular rarity. Quite a lot of such cases are known. Therefore, nothing extraordinary happened. The patient was immunodeficient, and patients with severe immunodeficiency are likely to die when infected with poxviruses. Although in practice this is rare. Usually, the disease, if it does occur, is very mild. But in immunodeficient people such cases are possible,” the virologist explained.

The infection from Alaska is unlikely to reach Russia. But Alexander Lukashev admits the possibility of the virus manifesting itself within the country.

“Specifically, about this case, we can say that the risk of spreading the virus is zero. But other animals have their own poxviruses. Therefore, it is natural that such a case could happen in Russia. It will just be in no way connected with the case in Alaska,” – Doctor is sure.

As a preventative measure, the expert recommends avoiding contact with animals for those living with immunodeficiency, especially severe ones.