Minnesota officials report a human rabies death, The state's fourth human case since 2000
Minnesota state health officials report investigating a human rabies death in a person over 65 years of age, who had exposure to a bat in western Minnesota in July 2024.
The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed on Sept. 20, based on testing done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
This is Minnesota’s fourth case of human rabies since 2000.
The number of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. has declined from more than 100 annually in the early 1900s to less than five cases annually in recent years. Of infections acquired in the U.S., 70% are attributed to bat exposures.
In Minnesota, previous cases occurred in 1917, 1964, 1975, 2000, 2007 and 2021; all were fatal. The cases that occurred in 2000 and 2007 were in persons who were bitten by bats but did not seek medical attention.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is working with the patient’s family and health care facilities where the patient was treated to evaluate whether any family members or health care workers were potentially exposed and need treatment.
This case is an important reminder that bats in Minnesota can have rabies and that the public should avoid contact with bats.
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If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person, unattended child, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. A bat’s teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.
If the bat is not available for testing, contact your health care provider or MDH quickly after the exposure for information on what to do next.
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