A child in Ontario has died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in their bedroom, according to Canadian health officials.
The child was exposed to the virus in an area north of Sudbury. They woke up with a bat in their bedroom. The parents, seeing no visible bite or scratches, did not seek a rabies vaccination for their child.
This incident marks Ontario’s first domestically acquired human rabies case since 1967. The child, whose age was not disclosed, was hospitalized after the incident, which occurred in early September, but sadly passed away.
Rabies, while rare, is a deadly viral disease that spreads through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, such as bats, coyotes, foxes, or raccoons. According to the World Health Organization, once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal due to severe damage to the brain and spinal cord.
The percentage of rabid bats in southern Ontario has risen from under 10% to 16% in recent years. He stressed the importance of seeking medical attention after any bat exposure, even in the absence of visible bite marks, and emphasized the need for immediate treatment and vaccination.
Health Canada reports that human rabies cases in the country are extremely rare. Since records began in 1924, 28 cases have been documented across six provinces, all of which were fatal. Most human cases in Canada result from exposure to bats or from rabies contracted abroad. However, Canadians contracting rabies from dog or other animal bites while on vacation overseas is quite common.
If you are working in an environment that will expose you to wild animals or if you are going abroad to certain destinations, make an appointment with Destinations Travel and Immunization Clinic to make sure you are immunized against such risks. If you are bitten by an animal, please see your family doctor to get assessed.
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