A Maryland resident has died of rabies, the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced Tuesday.
It's currently unknown how the victim, an adult, contracted the virus.
Authorities said they won't release any additional information about the victim to protect the privacy of the person's family.
The health department is working to assess the risk of rabies exposure in those who had contact with the patient. However, people are usually exposed to rabies from a bite from an infected animal, not by contact with another person, the department said.
Rabies can be prevented with a vaccine and other medications for those who have been exposed.
This is Maryland's first case of rabies in a human since 1976.
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