A Michigan resident has died after contracting rabies from a transplanted organ, health officials announced. The patient received the transplant at a hospital in Ohio in December 2024 and died in January 2025. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the rabies infection came from the organ donor, who was not a resident of Michigan or Ohio.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the rabies diagnosis through its Rabies Laboratory. Health departments in Michigan and Ohio, along with the CDC, conducted a thorough investigation to assess potential exposure risks to those who had contact with the patient. Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, stated that post-exposure preventive care was provided where necessary.
The organ recipient and the type of organ transplanted have not been disclosed. Health officials have assured the public that there is no risk to the general public from this incident. According to the CDC, rabies is a rare but serious public health concern, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually in recent years.
Organ donors in the United States are typically screened for various infections, but rabies is not usually tested due to the rarity of the disease and the time-consuming nature of the test. This incident follows previous cases, such as in 2013 and 2004, where organ recipients contracted rabies from infected donors.