Michigan resident dies from rabies after contracting virus from transplanted organ, health officials say

A Michigan resident has died of rabies after receiving a transplanted organ in Ohio, the Toledo-Lucas County (Ohio) Health Department reported Wednesday. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the report, saying the patient died in January and the transplant happened in December.

“A public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the transplanted organ,” the Michigan agency said.

The patient had received a transplanted organ and was under care in Lucas County, where they died. Because the person was a Michigan resident, it will be counted as a Michigan human rabies case rather than an Ohio one, the local health department said. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is Michigan’s first human case of rabies since 2009. 

Lucas County and its county seat of Toledo are just south of the Michigan-Ohio state line. Authorities from both states were involved in the investigation; and the CDD made the rabies confirmation.

The organ donor was not a resident of Michigan or Ohio, Michigan officials added.  

“A multi-state public health investigation was conducted to determine the risk of exposure to the recipient and found no risk to the general public,” the Toledo health report said. 

The CDC explains that rabies is a viral disease that is deadly to humans if medical care is not received before symptoms start. It is usually spread to humans and pets through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

Fewer than 10 deaths are reported each year among humans in the United States. 

Each year, 60,000 Americans receive medical care after a potential rabies exposure. 

“Post exposure preventative care, if appropriate, has been provided,” the Michigan agency said in its statement about this case.