A man passed away due to rabies following a kidney transplant from a donor who likely contracted the virus after being scratched by a skunk. This unique chain of infection was documented in a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marking only the fourth case of rabies transmission through transplant in the United States in fifty years. The transplant took place at an Ohio medical facility in December 2024.
The recipient started showing symptoms five weeks post-transplant, including tremors, weakness, confusion, and urinary issues, leading to urgent medical attention. He was hospitalized the following week with a fever, deteriorated rapidly, and ultimately succumbed to the illness.
Rabies was found in the recipient’s saliva and brain tissue, sparking an investigation into the organ donor. The donor, who had disclosed a skunk scratch incident during the donor assessment, had been scratched by a skunk in Idaho and subsequently passed away. Family members recounted the skunk encounter, mentioning the donor’s defensive actions against the animal but denying any belief of being bitten.
The donor’s symptoms matched those of rabies, leading to further testing that revealed the presence of the virus in the kidney. Investigators concluded that the donor had died of rabies, which was then transmitted through the kidney transplant to the recipient.
Despite the rarity of such incidents due to the low rabies incidence in the U.S. and the complexity of diagnosis, the CDC stressed the minimal risk of transplant-transmitted infections like rabies. Other organs from the donor were traced, with cornea graft recipients receiving preventive treatment and remaining asymptomatic.
Rabies is not routinely screened for in organ donors, and donor risk assessments rely heavily on family reports of potential animal exposure. Experts emphasized the infrequency of such events, highlighting the overall minimal risk associated with organ transplants.
Dr. Lara Danziger-Isakov of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre described the incident as extremely rare, underscoring the overall low risk involved in organ transplants.
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