WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed that a Hispanic field worker who contracted rabies while still in Mexico has died from the illness.

Lisa Faust with DHH said the worker died over the weekend after he fell ill in New Roads, and was transferred from a hospital there to New Orleans.

"We've been in contact with his family and co-workers, and anyone that is at risk of contracting rabies is receiving the proper treatments," she said on Tuesday.

Faust said rabies can only be contracted by contact with an infected person or animal's saliva, and because the man contracted it in Mexico there is believed to be no wider health risk.

"He's only been in the country for a week," said Faust, "but we're taking all the precautions we can with those that have been in contact with him."

Faust said this is the first human death in Louisiana due to rabies in 60 years.