Doctors detail 2024 Ontario child rabies death, warn public about contact with bats
Doctors say 28 human rabies cases have been reported in Canada since 1924, and prompt treatment after bat contact can prevent infection.
- An 11-year-old Ontario boy died from rabies after waking with a bat on his face, according to a report published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. He is the province's first locally acquired rabies fatality since 1967.
- Because the bat lacked aggressive behavior and left no visible bite marks or scratches, the boy's parents did not seek medical attention. Bats often transmit rabies through small teeth and claws difficult to detect.
- Nineteen days after the incident, the child developed facial numbness and tingling. A local clinic misdiagnosed the symptoms as Bell's palsy before his condition deteriorated with fever, confusion, and difficulty swallowing.
- Doctors admitted the boy to the pediatric intensive care unit, where a PCR test confirmed rabies on the fourth day of admission. He died on his 17th day in the hospital.
- Medical professionals urge anyone with potential bat contact to immediately seek medical attention rather than self-inspecting for wounds. Post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective if administered before symptoms develop, though rabies remains nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
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Canadian boy dies of rabies after bat landed on his face while he slept
An 11-year-old Canadian boy died from rabies weeks after waking with a bat on his face, in a case that doctors say underscores the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after any direct contact with a bat, even when there are no visible bite marks.
Canadian boy, 11, dies of rabies after waking to bat on his face
ONTARIO — An 11-year-old Canadian boy has died from rabies weeks after he woke up to find a bat resting on his face, according to a newly published medical case report.The unidentified boy was staying with family at a cottage in northern Ontario during the summer of 2024 when he awoke to discover a bat lying across his nose and mouth, according to the report published on Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. He swatted the bat away…
Bat on his face, no visible bite: 11-year-old Canadian boy dies of rabies weeks later
UK News: An 11-year-old Canadian boy died from rabies after a bat encounter while sleeping, prompting critical warnings on rabies exposure and prevention. Health experts stress immediate action following bat contacts.
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