A Michigan resident died of rabies after receiving an organ transplanted in Ohio, the Toledo Lucas County (Ohio) Health Department reported Wednesday.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the report, saying the patient died in January and the transplant occurred in December.
“Public health investigations determined they had rabies through the organs that were transplanted,” the Michigan agency said.
The patient was given transplanted organs and was being cared for in Lucas County. The person was a Michigan resident and hence would be counted as a human rabies case in Michigan rather than Ohio, the local health department said. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is Michigan’s first human rabies case since 2009.
The county seat of Lucas County and Toledo is located just south of the Michigan-Ohio State Line. Authorities from both countries were involved in the investigation. The CDC confirmed rabies.
The organ donor was not a resident of Michigan or Ohio, Michigan officials added.
“To determine the risk of exposure to recipients, multiple state public health surveys have been conducted to find that there is no risk for the public,” the Toledo Health Report said.
The CDC describes rabies as a deadly viral disease for humans if they are not receiving medical care before symptoms begin. It usually spreads to humans and pets through bites and wounds from infected animals.
Fewer than 10 deaths are reported among Americans each year.
Every year, 60,000 Americans are receiving medical care after being exposed to potential rabies.
“Post-exposure preventive care is provided where necessary,” the Michigan agency said in a statement on the case.
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