Cole County man dies after being infected with rabies

A 52-year-old Cole County man is dead after apparently contracting rabies.

Family members told ABC 17 it all started about two weeks ago when John Emmerich of Eugene felt severe neck pain, began shaking, trouble swallowing, and hallucinations.

Not long after that, he was admitted to University Hospital where he died last Friday.

Family members said test results last week came back from the CDC and confirmed Emmerich had rabies. He died the following day.

The Miller County Health Department said Missouri’s Health Department is investigating the cause of death.

The department said it can’t comment on the cause due to privacy laws, but a spokesman told ABC 17 News rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system.

“Headache, fevers, and then it’ll go into more serious neurological effects like hallucinations or things like that, and if somebody does contract rabies, the likelihood of someone surviving is very small,” said Ryan Hobart, the spokesman for the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Hobart said it’s rare to catch rabies.

“If people have been outdoors, working outdoors, or if they spend a lot of time outside, if they see a wild animal that might have been in the house, usually it’s a bat or a skunk, those are usually the animals in Missouri it’s occurring with. If they have any feeling that they might have been bitten whatsoever, they should consult their physician immediately,” said Hobart.

Officials said if you are bitten to wash the wound immediately for 10-15 minutes, then call your healthcare provider and get tested.