Rare Case of Rabies Transmission via Kidney Transplant: CDC Investigation and Precautions
A man from Michigan passed away from rabies after receiving a kidney transplant from a donor who died of the disease. The recipient began experiencing symptoms weeks after the transplant and eventually died. It was later discovered that the donor had been scratched by a skunk while defending a kitten, leading to the transmission of rabies. The investigation revealed a chain of transmission from a bat to a skunk to the donor and ultimately to the recipient. This incident marked the fourth reported transplant-transmitted rabies event in the US since 1978. The risk of such infections, including rabies, is extremely low in transplant cases. Following the discovery, precautions were taken to prevent infection in other recipients who received cornea grafts from the same donor. The CDC emphasized the importance of considering infectious disease risk factors in organ donors, as rabies is not routinely tested due to its rarity in the US. Dr. Lara Danziger-Isakov described the event as exceptionally rare, with a minimal overall risk.