A Michigan resident has died in January after contracting rabies from an organ transplant, according to reports. The patient received a kidney transplant at a medical center in Lucas County, Ohio, in December 2024.
The deceased donor was not from the same state or region as the recipient, contradicting initial assumptions about their origin. A statement from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department confirmed that the diagnosis of rabies was made after sending tissue samples to the CDC for confirmation.
Rabies is a rare but fatal disease primarily affecting the central nervous system, typically spread through animal bites or scratches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than 10 cases of human death due to rabies occur annually in the US.
Organ transplant recipients are at risk, although such cases are extremely rare. A similar incident occurred in 2013 when a patient who received a kidney transplant died from rabies. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has stated there is no public health threat to concern.
Source: https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/patient-dies-rabies-organ-transplant