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Michigan Resident's Rabies Death Linked to Rare Organ Transplant Case

A January 2025 death from rabies, traced to a December kidney transplant in Ohio, highlights rare transmission risks and donor screening challenges.

Colorized transmission electron micrograph of rabies virus particles (blue).
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans, and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, according to Health Canada. It spreads through contact with saliva or blood from infected animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, or stray dogs.
© NIAID,CC BY 2.0
Image

Overview

  • The Michigan resident, who died in January 2025, contracted rabies from a kidney transplant performed at the University of Toledo Medical Center in December 2024.
  • The CDC's Rabies Laboratory confirmed the diagnosis as part of a multi-state investigation involving Michigan and Ohio health officials.
  • Health authorities ensured post-exposure preventive care for all individuals potentially exposed, confirming no ongoing public health risk.
  • Rabies transmission through organ transplantation is extremely rare, with few documented cases in the U.S., including incidents in 2004 and 2013.
  • The case underscores limitations in organ donor screening, as rabies is not routinely tested due to its rarity and the time required for testing.