An unusual virus transmitted by a transplanted kidney

source: www.dmvfollowers.com

There are many viruses that can be transmitted by a kidney. Rabies would not be anywhere near the top of my list. However, the New York Times recently published a story about a Maryland patient who died from rabies contracted from a kidney transplant. 

According to the study: "Doctors did not know or even suspect that the organ donor had rabies, so he was not tested for the virus that causes it before his heart, liver and kidneys were removed for transplantation."

From a Washington Post article: "Transmission of rabies through organ or tissue transplant is extremely rare. Four people in Texas died in 2004 from rabies contracted from a single donor’s tissue. There have been at least eight cases around the world contracted through cornea transplants." 

An article in Medscape is worth a read on donor transmitted viral disease.