In a rare and tragic medical incident, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the death of an American man who contracted rabies after receiving a kidney from an infected donor—an infection that was not detected during standard medical screening. The transplant took place in December 2024, and within five weeks, the recipient began experiencing alarming neurological symptoms including tremors, weakness, confusion, and urinary incontinence.

As days passed, the symptoms intensified to include fever, difficulty swallowing, imbalance, and hydrophobia—classic signs of rabies. Despite hospitalization and immediate notification of health authorities, the patient passed away seven days after severe symptoms appeared. Postmortem analysis confirmed the presence of the rabies virus.

Investigations revealed that the donor had been attacked by a wild animal in rural Idaho weeks before his death, suffering a bleeding scratch. He later developed severe neurological symptoms that culminated in brain death. While routine testing did not detect rabies, specialized analysis of kidney tissue revealed a viral strain matching the silver-haired bat variant, confirming transmission through the transplanted organ.

Multiple organs were initially scheduled for transplant, including the heart, lungs, and corneas. Three corneal grafts had already been performed before the virus was detected. Once the infection was identified, the grafts were recalled, and a fourth transplant was cancelled. Further testing confirmed rabies in one graft, prompting preventative treatment for all recipients. No additional infections were recorded.

The heart and lungs were not transplanted and were instead used for medical training, leaving no samples available for further testing. Rabies remains one of the deadliest viral infections known to affect the human nervous system, with almost no chance of survival once symptoms begin.

According to official data, this case marks the fourth incident of rabies transmission through organ donation in the U.S. since 1978, involving a total of 13 recipients. Seven died due to the lack of preventive treatment, while six survived thanks to timely medical intervention.