An 11-year-old boy in Ontario, Canada, died from rabies just 19 days after waking up to find a bat lying over his nose and mouth. Despite the absence of any visible bite or scratch marks, the child contracted the lethal virus, according to a report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
First Fatal Rabies Case in Ontario in Over 50 Years
This marks the first fatal human rabies case in Ontario in more than 50 years. The boy, who has not been named, began showing symptoms consistent with rabies 19 days after the incident, including vomiting, facial 'pins and needles,' and numbness. He visited the emergency department, where he received supportive care, as there is no cure once symptoms develop.
Parents Share Story to Raise Awareness
The boy's parents agreed to share their son's story to raise awareness about the dangers of rabies. Experts hope the CMAJ report will provide critical guidance to prevent future deaths. Rabies in humans is almost always fatal, but post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies vaccines and human rabies immune globulin can prevent death if administered promptly before symptoms appear.
Bats as Primary Carriers in North America
Bats are the most common carriers of rabies in North America, though raccoons, skunks, and foxes can also transmit the disease. Bats pose a heightened risk because their scratches or bites can be small and difficult to detect. Report co-author Dr. Brian Hummel, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster University, stated: 'Any direct human contact with a bat – even in the absence of a visible bite or scratch – is an indication for PEP and should be discussed with public health authorities.'
Urgent Call for Prompt Medical Attention
Dr. Hummel emphasized that people who may have had contact with a potentially rabid wild animal should seek medical attention promptly. 'Bats may or may not show classic signs of rabies; hence, any direct human contact with a bat is considered high risk,' he added. He noted that public health authorities should be notified and PEP started in consultation. 'Rabies is almost always fatal, with no established efficacious therapies, making prevention crucial. Rabies PEP is highly effective if administered promptly, in consultation with public health authorities, after any direct human contact with a bat, even in the absence of visible lesions.'
Context in the UK
In the UK, there have been 27 confirmed cases of human rabies since 1924, all but one contracted abroad, primarily from dog bites in South Asia or Africa. The only recent UK case was in 2002, when a licensed bat handler in Scotland died from a rabies-like virus. The UK has been free of terrestrial rabies – spread between dogs and foxes – since 1922.
