A rare case of human rabies has been reported in Michigan after a resident died from contracting the disease through a transplanted organ, health officials confirmed on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a hospital in Ohio in December 2024, and the patient received the transplant before dying the following month.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the person contracted rabies through the transplanted organ and died in January 2025. The investigation, led by the CDC’s Rabies Laboratory, revealed that the patient was a recent organ transplant recipient.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasized that there is no threat to the general public, as the risk of exposure was assessed and post-exposure preventive care provided to those in contact with the individual. The CDC also noted that dog bites and scratches are responsible for 99% of human rabies cases and can be prevented through vaccination and bite prevention.
This incident marks Michigan’s first reported case of human rabies since 2009, according to CBS News. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal, emphasizing the need for prompt medical attention in suspected cases.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of organ donor eligibility screening and testing, with the CDC stating that laboratory testing for rabies is not performed during the evaluation process. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and other involved agencies did not provide additional information when contacted by PEOPLE.
Source: https://people.com/michigan-patient-dies-rabies-contracting-disease-transplanted-organ-11704146