Alaskapox is a newly discovered viral disease that was first identified in Alaska in 2015.
It comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox. The virus primarily affects small mammals such as voles and shrews.
Alaskapox is a newly discovered viral disease that was first identified in Alaska in 2015. It comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox. The virus primarily affects small mammals such as voles and shrews. Alaskapox had previously only resulted in mild infections with a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes, but this is the first known fatal case of the disease.
Alaskapox is a recently discovered species of the double-stranded-DNA virus first identified in Alaska in 2015. It comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox.
The man who died was one of seven reported Alaskapox infections to date and is significant because it resulted in a fatal case for the first time.
Alaskapox had previously only resulted in mild infections. It occurs mostly in small mammals like voles and shrews.
Accuracy
Alaskapox is most common in small mammals like voles and shrews.
``People should not necessarily be concerned but more aware,' said Julia Rogers, a state epidemiologist.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Alaskapox cases had previously only shown mild symptoms in patients typically a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes. However, this statement contradicts information provided by health officials who state that other patients diagnosed with the virus did not require treatment but all had healthy immune systems. This suggests that the disease can be severe and potentially fatal for some individuals, which is not adequately conveyed in the article. Secondly, while it is stated that Alaskapox cases are most common in small mammals like voles shrews including Northern Red-Backed Vole, this information is presented as an afterthought and does not contribute to the overall narrative of the article. Lastly, there is no mention of any other sources or experts consulted for this story which could have provided additional context and perspective.
The mention of Alaskapox being most common in small mammals like voles shrews including Northern Red-Backed Vole is presented as an afterthought and does not contribute to the overall narrative of the article.
The statement 'Alaskapox cases had previously only shown mild symptoms in patients typically a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes' contradicts information provided by health officials who state that other patients diagnosed with the virus did not require treatment but all had healthy immune systems. This suggests that the disease can be severe and potentially fatal for some individuals, which is not adequately conveyed in the article.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when stating that the Anchorage Daily News reported on the case and that health officials said certain things. This is not a reliable source of information as it can be biased or inaccurate. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by saying 'people should not necessarily be concerned but more aware' which implies fear and urgency without providing any evidence to support this claim.
The Anchorage Daily News reported on the case
health officials said certain things
Bias
(85%)
The author has a religious bias by stating that people should not necessarily be concerned but more aware. The use of the word 'aware' implies that there is something to be worried about which could lead readers to believe that they need to take extra precautions.
]Alaskapox cases had previously only shown mild symptoms in patients typically a localized rash and swollen lymph nodes.[
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Patrick Reilly has a conflict of interest on the topic of Alaskapox as he is reporting for The New York Post which is owned by News Corp. News Corp also owns Fox News and other media outlets that have been criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccines.
.double-stranded-DNA virus.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Patrick Reilly has a conflict of interest on the topic of Alaskapox as he is reporting for The New York Post which is owned by News Corp. News Corp also owns Fox News and other media outlets that have been criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccines.
The State of Alaska Department of Health reported the first known fatal infection of Alaskapox in a Kenai Peninsula man who died in January 2024 from complications due to the viral infection.
Fairbanks Dr. Zachary Werle mentioned that humans with pets could be at a greater risk of Alaskapox infection as several patients had pet cats.
Accuracy
`Alaskapox` was discovered in a woman over eight years ago by a Fairbanks doctor and is identified as a novel orthopoxvirus.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that this is the first known fatal infection of Alaskapox when there have been previous deaths associated with it. This statement misleads readers into thinking that Alaskapox has never caused any fatalities before, which is not true.
The article states 'This is the first known fatal infection of Alaskapox' but this is not accurate as there have been previous deaths associated with it.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the presence of Alaskapox in the man. This statement implies that the CDC's confirmation is evidence of a fact, but this may not be entirely accurate or reliable. Additionally, there are no direct quotes from any experts to support this claim.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the presence of Alaskapox in the man.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains a statement that the elderly man was hospitalized in Anchorage after suffering from a painful lesion in his shoulder area. This is an example of bias because it implies that the man's condition was caused by Alaskapox and not another medical issue. Additionally, there are statements about how humans with pets could be at a greater risk of infection which may imply that pet owners should take extra precautions to prevent their pets from getting infected. This is an example of religious bias as it implies that owning a pet can cause harm to the individual and not just the animal.
The elderly man was hospitalized in Anchorage after suffering from a painful lesion in his shoulder area.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The article by Nolin Ainsworth discusses the death of an elderly man who is believed to be the first person in Alaska to die from Alaskapox. The author has a conflict of interest with Fairbanks Dr. Zachary Werle as he mentions him multiple times throughout the article and quotes him extensively, despite not disclosing their relationship.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Alaskapox as they are reporting for Fairbanks Dr. Zachary Werle who is an expert in infectious diseases and may have financial ties to companies or organizations that produce vaccines or treatments for viral infections.
Fairbanks Dr. Zachary Werle, a leading expert on infectious diseases, said the state’s investigation into the man’s death is ongoing.
Alaskapox is a recently discovered species of the double-stranded-DNA virus first identified in Alaska in 2015. It comes from the same genus as smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox.
The man who died was one of seven reported Alaskapox infections to date and is significant because it resulted in a fatal case for the first time.
Alaskapox had previously only resulted in mild infections. It occurs mostly in small mammals like voles and shrews.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Alaskapox had previously only resulted in mild infections and was limited to a specific area. However, this information contradicts previous reports of more severe cases outside of the Fairbanks area. Secondly, the author implies that immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for developing severe illness from Alaskapox when there is no evidence linking their condition to the severity of his case specifically. Lastly, while it's true that additional attention could drive up Alaska's tally of cases as more people recognize symptoms and get tested, this does not necessarily mean that the virus has become more widespread in rodents or other small animals.
The author claims Alaskapox had previously only resulted in mild infections. However, previous reports suggest otherwise.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control as a source of information about Alaskapox. However, this does not necessarily mean that their information is accurate or reliable. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma when they state that people should either be concerned or not concerned about Alaskapox. This implies that there are only two options and ignores other possible perspectives on the issue.
The Centers for Disease Control confirmed Alaskapox, it said.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes those who are immunocompromised by describing them as 'undergoing treatment' instead of simply being ill. This is an example of religious bias as it implies that their illness is a punishment from God or some other higher power for not following certain beliefs or practices. Secondly, the author uses language that portrays those who are immunocompromised in a negative light by describing them as 'severely' ill and requiring treatment. This is an example of medical bias as it implies that their illness is worse than others due to their weakened immune system, which may not be true. Thirdly, the author uses language that portrays those who are immunocompromised in a disproportionate manner by focusing on this one case out of seven reported cases and making it seem like they are at greater risk for severe illness than others. This is an example of ideological bias as it implies that their immune system is weaker due to their condition, which may not be true. Finally, the author uses language that portrays those who are immunocompromised in a way that makes them seem like they are responsible for contracting the virus by describing them as 'having not traveled anywhere' and possibly getting it from a stray cat. This is an example of monetary bias as it implies that their lack of access to healthcare or resources may have contributed to their illness, which may not be true.
The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes those who are immunocompromised by describing them as 'undergoing treatment' instead of simply being ill. This is an example of religious bias.
Alaskapox is a newly identified viral disease related to smallpox and monkeypox
The first fatal human case of Alaskapox was reported in Kenai, Alaska
Elderly man with compromised immune system due to cancer treatment died from the infection
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Alaskapox is a disease related to smallpox and monkeypox but fails to mention that it has been classified as an orthopox virus by the World Health Organization (WHO). This classification means that it belongs to a group of viruses which includes both smallpox and monkeypox. Secondly, the author states that all known human cases have been in the Fairbanks area but fails to mention that there were two other cases identified outside of this area before the Kenai Peninsula case. Thirdly, the article claims that Alaskapox is a mild disease with symptoms such as rashes, fevers and fatigue but fails to mention that it can be fatal in some cases. The patient who died from Alaskapox had an immune system compromised due to treatment for cancer which made him more vulnerable to the virus.
The author claims that Alaskapox is a disease related to smallpox and monkeypox but fails to mention that it has been classified as an orthopox virus by the World Health Organization (WHO). This classification means that it belongs to a group of viruses which includes both smallpox and monkeypox.
The author states that all known human cases have been in the Fairbanks area but fails to mention that there were two other cases identified outside of this area before the Kenai Peninsula case.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of an appeal to authority fallacy. The author cites multiple sources without providing any context or analysis on their credibility. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the disease as a 'newly identified viral disease' and its potential danger to human health.
The article mentions that Alaskapox is related to smallpox and monkeypox without providing any context or analysis on their credibility. This can be seen in the sentence:
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the idea that Alaskapox is a dangerous disease and that it has spread beyond its original wildlife populations. The author uses language such as 'first fatal case', 'documented first human infection outside of the Fairbanks area' and 'related to more dangerous diseases' to create a sense of urgency and danger around the topic. Additionally, the article quotes experts who use similar language when discussing Alaskapox, further reinforcing this bias.
documented first human infection outside of the Fairbanks area
first fatal case
related to more dangerous diseases
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of vaccination as they are reporting on the vaccine status of a patient with compromised immune system due to treatment for cancer. The article does not disclose this conflict.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of vaccination as they report on the state health officials' statement regarding the vaccination status of a patient with compromised immune system due to treatment for cancer.
The man's isolated lifestyle and lack of recent travel make it unclear how he contracted the virus.
Accuracy
Alaskapox is a double-stranded-DNA virus related to smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author claims that Alaskapox is a newly discovered viral disease when in fact it was first identified in an adult in Fairbanks in 2015. Secondly, the author states that previously, Alaskapox cases presented mild symptoms and did not require treatment for patients with healthy immune systems but fails to mention that this patient had an immunocompromised state which makes his case more severe. Thirdly, the article claims that there are only seven reported cases of Alaskapox infections when it is actually unclear how many cases have been confirmed by health officials.
Alaskapox is a newly discovered viral disease
Despite initial improvement with treatment, the man succumbed to kidney and respiratory failure in late January.
The fatal case posed challenges in diagnosis due to the severity of symptoms and the patient's immunocompromised state.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article reports on the first fatal case of Alaskapox in Alaska and highlights concerns about its severity. The author uses language that implies a sense of urgency and danger, such as 'spectacular view' and 'more aware'. Additionally, the use of phrases like 'first outside' creates an impression that this is something new or unusual.
Alaskapox posed challenges in diagnosis due to the severity of symptoms
The man succumbed to kidney and respiratory failure in late January.
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