John Freeman is believed to be the country's first victim of rabbit flu.
He was infected earlier this month after picking up a rabbit on his farm. He took ill and died four days later.
Health officials say he died of septicemia, which he developed after being infected with Pasteurella multocida bacteria, the cause of rabbit flu.
A Health Protection Agency spokesman says the bacteria is commonly found in domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. However, he has not heard of anyone else who died from rabbit-to-human transmission of the bacteria.
The spokesman tells the BBC that a few people are infected every year with the bacteria, but fatalities are rare.
Freeman's mother Joan is warning others about the disease.
She tells BBC News, "People should just be aware that there is this dreadful thing around and potentially it's lethal."
