Canadian boy dies of rabies after waking to find bat on his face
Summary
An 11-year-old boy in Ontario, Canada, died of rabies after waking to find a bat on his face. Doctors said the rare death could have been prevented with better public understanding of rabies risks and treatment.Key Facts
- The boy found a bat on his nose and mouth while staying at a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024.
- His parents caught the bat and released it without suspecting rabies, as they saw no bites or unusual bat behavior.
- Rabies is very rare in Canada, with only 28 cases since 1924 and none in Ontario since 1967.
- Bats are the main carriers of rabies in North America, and bites or scratches can be so small they go unnoticed.
- Rabies can enter the body through saliva contacting cuts, eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Symptoms appeared 19 days later with facial tingling and swelling; rabies was confirmed by brain scans and tests.
- There is no cure for rabies once symptoms start, and it is almost always fatal.
- Early treatment after exposure, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), is very effective at preventing rabies.
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