Rabies Confirmed as Cause of Death in Michigan Organ Transplant Case

A CDC investigation determined that a Michigan patient contracted rabies through a transplanted kidney received in Ohio, marking the state's first human rabies case since 2009.

The Michigan resident received a kidney transplant in December 2024 at a hospital in Lucas County, Ohio, and died in January 2025.
The CDC Rabies Laboratory confirmed that the rabies infection originated from the transplanted organ, following a multi-state public health investigation.
Health officials ensured post-exposure preventive care for individuals potentially exposed, including healthcare providers, and confirmed no risk to the general public.
Rabies is not routinely screened for in organ donors due to the rarity of the disease and the time required for testing, highlighting limitations in current protocols.
This case, one of only a few documented instances of rabies transmission through organ transplantation in the U.S., has reignited discussions about improving donor screening procedures.