What to Know
- A Kent County woman became the first Delaware resident to die from rabies in more than 75 years.
- She was taken to a Delaware hospital in late July and then died at a Pennsylvania hospital last week.
- The last Delawarean to die from rabies was a boy who was bitten by a stray dog in 1941.
A Kent County woman became the first Delaware resident to die from rabies in more than 75 years.
The woman, who lived west of Felton, was taken to a Delaware hospital in late July after becoming ill, according to NBC affiliate WDEL. She was taken to a Pennsylvania hospital for further treatment and died last week.
Officials say she died from rabies though they did not reveal how she was exposed to it or the woman’s identity. She is only the second Delawarean to die from the disease. The first was a boy from Newport, Delaware, who died in 1941 after being bitten by a stray dog.
“Our hearts go out to this woman’s family during this very difficult time,” Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said. “Because rabies is a fatal disease once symptoms develop, we urge all Delawareans to ensure they are taking steps to avoid exposure. This is a largely preventable disease.”
To learn more about rabies and how to protect yourself against the disease, click here.
