A Michigan patient who underwent an organ transplant in December has died after contracting rabies from the donated organ, health officials confirmed.
The organ was transplanted at a hospital in Ohio, and the patient passed away just a month later, in January. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through spokesperson Lynn Sutfin, confirmed that the rare infection was linked to the organ donor.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later verified the rabies diagnosis through lab testing. Authorities have not revealed the patient’s identity or the type of organ involved. It was also confirmed that the donor was not from Michigan or Ohio.
According to Sutfin, local and federal health departments, including the CDC, worked closely to trace possible exposure and offer preventive treatment to individuals—especially medical staff—who may have come into contact with the infected patient.
Rabies, a deadly virus usually transmitted through the saliva of infected animals like bats or raccoons, is rarely seen in humans. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal without immediate medical intervention.
While organ donors in the U.S. are generally screened for numerous infections, rabies is not typically included due to its rarity.
