Bat exposure leads to child’s rabies death in Ontario, first case since 1967

A child in Ontario has tragically died from rabies, marking the first domestically-acquired case of the disease in the province since 1967.

Dr. Malcolm Lock of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit confirmed the child’s death, stating there were no signs of a bite or scratch, so the parents did not get the child a rabies vaccine.

Notably, it is the first case of domestically-acquired human rabies in Ontario since 1967, BBC reported.

The child, whose age was not revealed, was hospitalized following the early September incident and later passed away.

Human rabies cases in Canada primarily linked to bat exposure

Rabies is a rare yet fatal viral disease that can be transmitted to humans from infected animals, including bats, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons, typically through saliva. According to the World Health Organization, the disease can lead to severe damage to the brain and spinal cord, and it is almost always fatal once symptoms manifest.

Lock noted that the percentage of bats with rabies in southern Ontario has risen from less than 10% to 16% in recent years. He emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention for anyone exposed to bats, advising that treatment and vaccination should be pursued promptly, even if bite marks are not immediately apparent.

Health Canada, the Canadian government’s health department, reports that human rabies cases in the country are rare. Since tracking began in 1924, there have been 28 cases across six provinces, all of which were fatal. The agency indicated that nearly all human rabies cases in Canada result from exposure to bats or from contracting the virus abroad.

Rabies deaths in the US drop significantly since the 1960s due to prevention efforts

In the US, fewer than 10 people die from rabies each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks a “dramatic decline” since the 1960s, primarily due to prevention efforts.

Between 2009 and 2018, the CDC reported 25 documented cases of human rabies in the US, seven of which were contracted abroad. Similar to Canada, most rabies exposures in the US come from rabid bats, which are present in all states except Hawaii.

The CDC reports that contact with infected bats is the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the US. At least 70% of rabies fatalities in the US are due to bat exposure. While rabid dogs are rare in the US, domestic dogs are responsible for over 95 percent of the estimated 70,000 human deaths from rabies worldwide each year.

If bitten or scratched by a bat, the CDC advises washing the wound with soap and water and seeking medical help immediately. If bat saliva or brain material comes into contact with your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, urgent medical attention is essential, the health organization warned.