Key Takeaways

A kidney transplant resulted in a rabies infection, leading to two deaths

Since 1978, four donors have passed rabies through donated organs

Three additional patients who received corneas from the original donor are being treated as a precaution

MONDAY, Dec. 8, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A rare case of rabies linked to an organ transplant has resulted in two deaths, federal health officials announced.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a man in Idaho became infected with rabies after a skunk scratched his leg in October 2024.

About five weeks later, he developed serious symptoms including confusion, trouble swallowing and difficulty walking. He later collapsed and died at a hospital.

His organs were donated, including his left kidney,

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