A highly unusual medical crisis unfolded after an Idaho man, James Martin, became an organ donor upon his death, only for his donation to inadvertently spread a deadly rabies infection. The situation began in December 2024, when the 59-year-old father of three passed away in the midst of health complications, and following a brief coma. It left his family to believe his death was the result of heart-related issues.
According to Scripps News, medical professionals now believe the root cause was a rabies infection contracted about five weeks earlier. The infection likely stemmed from an encounter with a skunk in the Martin family’s front yard. Unfortunately, he quickly fell into a coma before he passed away. Because no one suspected rabies, the standard tests for the virus were not performed, and his organs were processed for donation.
