A child tragically lost their life to rabies after waking up with a bat in their room, as reported by a Canadian health official.
The child’s name and age have been withheld, but the incident with the bat occurred in Brant County, southern Ontario, and was confirmed a month ago, with the individual receiving treatment in a hospital.
This marks the first human case in Brant County – located approximately 200km southwest of Toronto – and the first domestically-acquired case of human rabies in Ontario since 1967.
- Mutant cow is one in 400,000,000! Calf born with two heads leaves Kentucky farmers shocked
- Texas beachgoers horrified after horde of venomous worms that can cause pain for hours appear
Dr. Malcolm Lock, acting medical officer of health at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, which oversees part of southern Ontario, disclosed this week that the patient was a child.
“Unfortunately, the case that we had here was a child and basically they woke up with a bat in the room,” he shared during a health board meeting in Norfolk County.
“The parents examined the child, didn’t notice any signs of a bite or scratches or saliva and didn’t seek getting the rabies vaccine. So, unfortunately, that child is now deceased.”
Last month, the Brant County Health Unit suggested that the suspected exposure originated from a bat in the Gowganda area of the Timiskaming region, further north in Ontario.
The health organization cautioned that bats “in all areas of Ontario are known to carry rabies”, while Dr Lock noted that the positivity rate for tested bats has risen to 16% this year, up from 10% in previous years.
“So that’s another thing we’re trying to make the public aware of,” he continued. “If they have any interaction with bats at all or wake up with a bat in their room then they should seek advice.”
In Canada, catching rabies is virtually unheard of, with only 26 cases since 1924, all ending fatally. The NHS describes rabies as a “rare but serious infection” that is “almost always fatal once symptoms appear.”
In stark contrast, the US saw 5,479 cases of animal rabies in 2022, mainly amongst wildlife such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, while cats, cattle, and dogs were the most affected domestic animals.
Human fatalities from rabies in the States remain below 10 annually, as the disease is typically deadly for those who neglect early medical intervention.
Because bat bites can be minuscule and hard to see, if you’re ever in contact with a bat, it’s crucial to consult your local health department and get medical advice pronto.