Update: Army Specialist Who Had Rabies Had Been Bitten By Dog on Duty

Update: The Castro Valley family of a U.S. Army specialist from Livermore who died in New York in late August after contracting rabies is questionning whether he received the proper care, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times.

Army Spc. Kevin Shumaker, 24, from Livermore was stationed at Fort Drum before he died at a state hospital after contracting the illness, officials said.

Shumaker told his parents he was treated for rabies at the base but said the series of injections was not completed.

According to the Times article, his mother, Elaine Taylor of Castro Valley, said her son got the disease after being bitten by a dog in Afghanistan. He told the family he was treated for rabies but that the treatment, which usually includes a series of injections, wasn't completed. The family is wondering whether he received the proper care.

Shumaker, who joined the Army in February 2009, was a 10th Mountain Division soldier assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Shumaker was stationed at Grafenwoehr, Germany, after he completed his training in August 2009. He was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2010, where he served as a cook until May 2011. Shumaker came to Fort Drum in August.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Shumaker is survived by his mother and stepfather.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.