In the past 100 years Minnesota has recorded just four deaths from rabies. Now, that number is five.
Randy Hertwig, a machinist from Monticello, died on Saturday, two days after Mayo Clinic doctors diagnosed a serious ongoing illness as rabies.
State health officials say the 46-year-old was bitten on the hand by a bat he was trying to remove from a cabin back in August.
They say he felt a "needle prick" at the time, but didn't believe his skin was punctured because no blood was drawn.
Dr. Stacy Holzbauer of the Health Department's Epidemic Intelligence Service says Hertwig's death should serve as a warning.
"The problem with bat bites is that their teeth are so small people might not be aware they have been bitten." She says anyone who comes in contact with a bat should consult their physician.
Minnesota's last rabies death occurred in the Detroit Lakes area in 2000. It too was caused by a bat bite.
If caught early, rabies is very treatable. But if diagnosed after symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.
Hertwig is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His visitation was Tuesday night in Monticello. Hertwig's funeral will be on Wednesday in Buffalo.
Friends say he loved the outdoors and was known for his smile and sense of humor.
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