Health officials in five states are assessing hundreds of people for rabies risk following the death of a Maryland man infected by a transplanted kidney.

Health officials say the virus can be spread through the infected person's saliva, but human-to-human transmission is rare.

The transplant donor had moved from North Carolina to Florida before dying in Pensacola, Fla., in 2011. His organs went to patients in Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland.

In Maryland, state veterinarian Katherine Feldman indicated about 200 medical workers, community members and family members were assessed, and fewer than two dozen were urged to get the vaccine.

In Florida, the health department identified about 90 people as potentially exposed. Three have been offered the vaccine.

Other states had not immediately offered details as of Saturday afternoon.