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MINNEAPOLIS — State health officials say a person in Minnesota has died from exposure to rabies, a rare event that has only happened four times since 2000.
The person who died was 65 years old, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. They were exposed to bats in western Minnesota in July, and a rabies diagnosis was confirmed in September.
Officials say the incident is an important reminder that bats in Minnesota can be infected with rabies. If someone is bitten by a bat, officials encourage them to capture the bat and submit it for rabies testing.
Rabies is almost always fatal if left untreated. Although treatment must begin before symptoms appear, treatment has been proven to be nearly 100% effective in preventing disease if someone is exposed.
State health officials also say household pets and livestock should be vaccinated against rabies.
Rabies kills an average of fewer than five people each year in the United States. Approximately 70% of deaths are related to exposure to bats. Previous incidents in Minnesota have occurred in 1917, 1964, 1975, 2000, 2007, and 2021, with incidents in 2000 and 2007 in which a doctor People who did not seek medical attention were involved.
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