I'd be hard-pressed to imagine a more terrifying way to go. 😰

https://people.com/organ-donor-unknowingly-gave-rabies-to-two-recipients-11987300?campaign=18352652&did=23878438-20260530&hid=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lctg=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lr_input=3911d0b923e8d92c50f8b74007080afa59d66697825b8a1e414be8db883b8062

"Three people who received cornea grafts [and a kidney] after the death of an Idaho man were exposed to rabies infection. The recipients were given cornea grafts harvested after the death of James Martin, an Idaho father of three who died in December 2024 at age 59, Scripps News reported. At the time of his death, James' family believed that he was suffering from heart issues, but medical professionals now suspect that he was actually infected with rabies. Kim told the outlet that James had been scratched by a skunk while defending one of his kittens in the front yard of the family's home. It is believed that James contracted the silver-haired bat rabies strain after the skunk ate an infected bat carrying the virus.

After James died, Kim honored his wish to donate his organs. She answered questions about James' health history and noted that he was recently scratched by a skunk, which was documented on the Donor Risk Assessment Interview (DRAI) questionnaire. The transplant process continued, and the organs were tested for HIV and hepatitis. It is uncommon to perform the complex rabies test because transmission through organ donation is rare. Between 1978 and 2024, there were only three documented cases of rabies transmission through organ donation, per the outlet...". 

That species of bat is found in all US states except Hawaii, and every Canadian province. The two most difficult issues here for me are: (1) no suspicion regarding the death of a 59 year-old weeks after being scratched by a skunk, and (2) why the docs didn't figure out the donor had rabies given that almost all rabies victims have a prominent and intense fear of water, a symptom not found in any other illness. 

1 hour ago, unicorn said:

I'd be hard-pressed to imagine a more terrifying way to go. 😰

https://people.com/organ-donor-unknowingly-gave-rabies-to-two-recipients-11987300?campaign=18352652&did=23878438-20260530&hid=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lctg=089247988732f9a900151e1f8c73f2c531df3c3a&lr_input=3911d0b923e8d92c50f8b74007080afa59d66697825b8a1e414be8db883b8062

"Three people who received cornea grafts [and a kidney] after the death of an Idaho man were exposed to rabies infection. The recipients were given cornea grafts harvested after the death of James Martin, an Idaho father of three who died in December 2024 at age 59, Scripps News reported. At the time of his death, James' family believed that he was suffering from heart issues, but medical professionals now suspect that he was actually infected with rabies. Kim told the outlet that James had been scratched by a skunk while defending one of his kittens in the front yard of the family's home. It is believed that James contracted the silver-haired bat rabies strain after the skunk ate an infected bat carrying the virus.

After James died, Kim honored his wish to donate his organs. She answered questions about James' health history and noted that he was recently scratched by a skunk, which was documented on the Donor Risk Assessment Interview (DRAI) questionnaire. The transplant process continued, and the organs were tested for HIV and hepatitis. It is uncommon to perform the complex rabies test because transmission through organ donation is rare. Between 1978 and 2024, there were only three documented cases of rabies transmission through organ donation, per the outlet...". 

That species of bat is found in all US states except Hawaii, and every Canadian province. The two most difficult issues here for me are: (1) no suspicion regarding the death of a 59 year-old weeks after being scratched by a skunk, and (2) why the docs didn't figure out the donor had rabies given that almost all rabies victims have a prominent and intense fear of water, a symptom not found in any other illness. 

Reminds me, growing up in the Midwest, we kids were taught to beware skunks and raccoons, that they often carries rabies.

Skunks are not predatory around cats or kittens.  If the skunk attacked, that would have been a critical clue to the Idaho man.

RIP.