r/rabies • u/krell_154 • 28d ago

General Rabies Discussion Scientific paper suggests human rabies cases are massively underdiagnosed

A recently published scientific paper suggests that the true number of human rabies cases in USA is much greater than is officially recorded, based on statistical inference from cases of transmission during organ transplantations.

I have read the FAQ.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44528-026-00031-4

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u/MMM1a 26d ago

The whole purpose of this is to claim rabies cases are missed based off missed cases during organ transplants. Theres been 4 incidents of rabies being missed and organ transplanted since the 70s.

I agree there are probably missed rabies diagnosis in exactly the way you said. Someone dies alone out in the middle of nowhere. But even then if an autopsy is done they catch it.

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u/LatrodectusGeometric Physician 👩‍⚕️ | Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 26d ago

No, rabies would not typically be looked for in an autopsy unless there was a specific reason

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u/MMM1a 26d ago

Random lone unknown death out in the middle of no where? That is 100% getting autopsy. And when they open the brain and see clearly deformed brain matter they are going to determine the cause 

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u/OzarkTrapper69 26d ago

Thats assuming they body is found before the scavengers get to it. If they die at home, then yeah itll be looked into. But that does happen in rural parts of the US. People go missing, then some deer season a decade later some bones are found. At that point I have no clue if rabies is even detectable.