A rare and tragic case of rabies has been reported in Canada, where an 11-year-old boy died after waking up to find a bat on his face while visiting an Ontario cottage. According to a report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the boy’s death was likely preventable with greater awareness of how the virus is transmitted. Rabies is exceedingly rare in Canada, with only 28 documented cases since 1924, and the last confirmed case in Ontario dating back to 1967. In this case, the boy woke up to find a bat on his nose and mouth, swatted it away, and his father caught it in a pot and released it outside.
The parents did not see any scratches or bites on their son’s face and did not consider the possibility of rabies infection. Nineteen days later, the boy developed tingling, numbness, and swelling on the right side of his face, which was initially misdiagnosed as herpes gingivostomatitis. However, after the bat exposure was reported, the doctor suspected rabies, and tests confirmed the diagnosis.
The boy’s condition worsened, and he was admitted to intensive care, where he eventually died. The case highlights the need for better public awareness of rabies transmission and the importance of timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment. Experts note that while skunks, raccoons, and foxes can carry rabies, bats are the primary animal responsible for transmission in North America. Bites and scratches from bats can be easily overlooked, and the virus can also enter humans through bat saliva coming into contact with cuts, eyes, nose, or mouth.
The report emphasizes that early recognition of exposure and timely PEP remain the only effective means of rabies prevention, citing overwhelming success in 29 million cases.
