NORTHERN KENTUCKY — A person died from rabies in Northern Kentucky on Friday, according to our media partner WCPO-9 TV.
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Northern Kentucky health officials say the person was exposed to rabies and received medical treatment in Kentucky and Ohio before dying.
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Their identity was not immediately available.
Health officials aren’t sure where the rabies exposure is from, but they believe it may have occurred outside of the U.S. during international travel.
Rabies is spread through bites or scratches from an infected animal. It can also spread when infected saliva or mucus enters the mouth, eyes, nose, or other open wounds.
Mammals can be infected with rabies, but the most common carriers in Kentucky are bats and skunks, according to WCPO-9.
Health officials said human-to-human transmission of rabies is rare. However, they are working to find anyone who may have been in contact with the person to check for potential exposure.
“Rabies is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that infects the brain,” Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), said in a release. “Unfortunately, if left untreated rabies is usually fatal.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio Department of Health, KDPH, and the Northern Kentucky Health Department are investigating this case.
Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal that looks sick.
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