A Michigan resident has died after contracting rabies through an organ transplant, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Wednesday.
The patient received the transplant in Ohio in December and passed away in January. State officials said an investigation determined the rabies infection came from the transplanted organ. However, they did not release details about the patient’s identity or the specific type of organ received. The donor was from outside Michigan and Ohio.
Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the health department, stated that both Michigan and Ohio health officials, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), worked together to investigate the case. The CDC’s Rabies Laboratory confirmed the diagnosis.
Public health teams took immediate action to assess anyone who had contact with the patient, including healthcare workers, for potential rabies exposure. Preventive care was provided where necessary.
Rabies, typically spread through saliva or blood from infected animals like bats, raccoons, or stray dogs, can be deadly if not treated early. The disease can start with flu-like symptoms but later progresses to severe conditions such as difficulty swallowing and hallucinations.
Rabies is rare in humans, and organ donors in the U.S. are usually screened for common infections. However, rabies is not typically included in routine screening due to the rarity of the disease and the time it takes to detect it.
This case follows a similar incident in 2013, where a kidney transplant recipient also died after contracting rabies from a donor. The cause of death was discovered only after the recipient’s passing. Additionally, in 2004, three transplant recipients in Arkansas died from rabies after receiving infected organs.
Related topics:
- Microneedle Technology: A Leap Forward In Managing Diabetic Wounds & Inflammation
- Combination Therapy Shows Promise In Reducing Cardiovascular Risks
- Trump Administration Cuts Climate Health Research Funding
