Overview
- A Michigan patient died weeks after a December 2024 kidney transplant, with CDC testing linking his illness to rabies acquired from the donor organ.
- Archived biopsy material from the Idaho donor’s kidney was positive for rabies virus RNA while stored serum tested negative, indicating diagnostic blind spots.
- Genetic analysis was consistent with the silver-haired bat variant, supporting a likely chain of transmission from bat to skunk to donor to recipient.
- Three corneal graft recipients had their transplants removed, received post-exposure prophylaxis, and remained asymptomatic, with one cornea testing positive.
- Public health teams assessed 357 potential contacts and recommended prophylaxis for 46 people, as CDC urges consultation when donors report recent animal exposures.