Rare Cowpox Case Leaves Swedish Woman Facing Uncertain Recovery
Sweden – Åza Karlsson Mainell, 49, is recovering from a rare case of cowpox, contracted from her cat, leaving her wiht swollen lymph nodes – described as “the size of golf balls” – and a frustrating lack of data from medical professionals. The case highlights the potential for underdiagnosis of the disease in Sweden, where only twelve cases have been previously identified.
Karlsson Mainell’s ordeal began with a noticeable illness lasting approximately two weeks. “I thoght it was a lot of work, because I was so ugly. When I passed a mirror at home, I thought, ‘This is terrible, what’s going on?'” she recounted. Compounding her distress was the difficulty in receiving a clear diagnosis. “I received no information whatsoever. One doctor admitted: ‘I had to Google before I went in to see you.'”
Cowpox is a viral disease for which there is no curative treatment,meaning Karlsson Mainell’s recovery was a “day by day” process. She eventually regained her appetite after two weeks,and has now been on sick leave for a month. While the smallpox has healed, she remains visibly red and faces uncertainty regarding potential scarring. “I’m still very red. We don’t know what kind of scar I will get or how long this red will stay in. Right now it feels like yes – if I get a scar, then that’s it.Considering how I’ve been looking, I’m happy,” she said.
Experts at The Medical journal believe cowpox is likely underdiagnosed in Sweden. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute advises careful hand hygiene when treating animal wounds to prevent transmission. Karlsson Mainell reflects,”Perhaps,with hindsight,I was a little careless. But I could never have thought that I would get a kind of bubonic plague on my face.”
