A Michigan resident died of rabies after catching a fatal illness from an organ transplant, local health officials recently reported.
The transplant took place in Ohio in December, and the patient died in January, according to Lynn Satfin, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The incident came to light in March following an investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health.
“Health officials worked together to ensure that people, including healthcare providers who were in contact with individuals in Michigan, were evaluated for possible exposure to rabies,” Sutfin said in an emailed statement.
NTD, sister media to the Epoch Times, did not hear a response from the CDC at the time of its release.
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The disease can become more severe from influenza-like symptoms, such as hallucinations and difficulty swallowing. When symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
Recent rabies-related deaths
This latest death follows another rabies-related death that occurred last November, when a 60-year-old teacher from Fresno County, California, was bitten by an infected bat.
Rabies is usually transmitted through contact with saliva or blood from infected animals, and bats are the most common source of human rabies in the United States.
“Bites from bats can be very small and difficult to see or detect. It is important to wash your hands and look for open wounds after touching a wild animal.
CDPH recommends several precautions against rabies, seeking prompt medical care, avoiding pet vaccinations, avoiding handling of wild animals, and seeking prompt medical care, particularly when being bitten by an animal, particularly if you behave wildly or abnormally.
