LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Department of Health said a person has died from rabies in northern Kentucky.
Health officials said the source of the person's rabies exposure hasn't been identified and may have happened outside of the U.S. during international travel.
The individual received medical treatment in Kentucky and Ohio. Health officials are working to make sure those who have been in contact with the person are assessed for possible exposure. Human to human transmission of rabies is rare.
“Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that infects the brain,” Kentucky Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said in a news release. “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% effective at preventing rabies.”
The last Kentucky resident with confirmed rabies infection was in 1996.
Rabies typically spreads through bites and scratches from an infected animal. Health officials encourage people to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations and to avoid contact with wild animals.
Bats and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Kentucky, but any mammal can be infected with rabies.
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