Kentucky Department for Public Health Reports Human Death from Rabies

The individual resided in northern Kentucky.

Shutterstock photo.

(Frankfort, Ky.) - Kentucky health officials have announced a human death from rabies in a northern Kentucky resident. 

According to the Kentucky Department of Public Health (KDPH), the source of the individual's rabies exposure has not been identified at this time and may have occurred outside of the U.S. during international travel. 

The individual did receive medical treatment in Kentucky and Ohio, therefore the KDPH is working with the CDC and other agencies on the investigation. 

"Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that infects the brain," said KDPH Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack. "Unfortunately, if left untreated rabies is usually fatal. Immediate medical care after a suspected exposure to rabies is critical, as rabies treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is nearly 100 percent effective at preventing rabies."

Rabies is typically spread through bites and scratches from an infected animal or from infected saliva or mucus entering the eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds. To reduce the risk of exposure to rabies virus, it is important to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations and to avoid contact with wild animals. In Kentucky, the most common carriers are bats and skunks but any mammal can be infected with the rabies virus. 

Human to human transmission of rabies is rare, but as a precaution health officials are working together to ensure that people who have been in contact with the individual assessed for possible exposure to rabies and receive medical treatment, as appropriate. 

The last Kentucky resident with confirmed rabies infection was in 1996.