Health officials in the state of Maryland announced Tuesday (March 12) its first case of human rabies since 1976. The individual died and officials don't know how the rabies virus was transmitted to the individual.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is still examining the rabies case. The last human rabies case in Maryland was reported almost four decades ago, in 1976.
"We do know that there is rabies throughout Maryland it's most commonly found in wildlife and we know that it is usually found in dogs and cats," said Dr. Katherine Feldman, a veterinarian with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
To protect the family's privacy, the name of the deceased was not released. Officials are also investigating the risk of exposure to people that the individual may have come into direct contact with.
The infection happened within the past few weeks, as reported by the Washington Post, and public health officials are trying to pinpoint "who may have kissed the patient or anybody who had saliva contact" with the person who contracted the rabies virus.
Saliva transmits the rabies virus and can be prevented with a rabies vaccine. Less than five human rabies cases were reported annually throughout the United States over the past 10 years.
"Thankfully, we don't share saliva with a whole lot of people," said Katherine Feldman the state public health veterinarian.
Last year Maryland reported 320 animals with rabies and Maryland law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets must receive the rabies vaccine.
Feldman said preventative treatment after exposure to the rabies virus was administered to roughly 1,000 individuals. It's only recommended for people who have been exposed to saliva, tears or other fluid from an infected person.
