In a rare instance, a Michigan man died of rabies after receiving a kidney transplant from an Idaho man who succumbed to the disease. The donor was scratched by a skunk while protecting a kitten. Following the recipient’s death and a review of the donor’s medical history, authorities discovered the skunk encounter and later confirmed the donor’s rabies infection through kidney biopsies. This led to a “likely three-step transmission chain” from a bat to a skunk to the donor and finally, to the recipient. The CDC has reported that this is only the fourth recorded transplant-transmitted rabies event in the U.S. since 1978.
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A Michigan resident died from rabies contracted through a kidney transplant received in Lucas County, Ohio, in December. This is the first rabies case in Michigan since 2009 and prompted a joint investigation involving Michigan, Ohio, and CDC officials. The donor risk assessment process was followed, according to Life Connection of Ohio, and no further individuals are at risk. The identities of the donor and recipient, as well as the transplant facility, remain undisclosed. Rabies-related deaths in the U.S. are extremely rare.
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The news of the first individual to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant passing away almost two months later has sparked a series of mixed reactions and contemplations. While many may jump to the conclusion that the transplant led to the patient’s demise, it is crucial to understand that this was not the case. The individual had volunteered for the transplant knowing that he was already in dire circumstances due to kidney failure, but this decision allowed for the advancement of medical knowledge.
It is disheartening to see how misleading headlines can prompt misconceptions, leading people to assume that the experimental transplant directly caused the death.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker