Doctors warn about bat contact after Ontario child rabies death

Doctors in Canada are urging people to seek medical help after any contact with bats, following the case of an Ontario child who died of rabies after being exposed in 2024. According to physicians who wrote about the case in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the 11yearold boy was at a cottage in northern Ontario when a bat was found on his face. His family did not see a bite or scratch and did not realize rabies exposure had occurred. The boy later developed neurological symptoms, was hospitalized, and eventually died after his condition worsened. Doctors say the case is being shared to show how quickly rabies can become fatal once symptoms begin, while also stressing that postexposure treatment is highly effective if given before illness starts. Experts say any physical contact with a bat should be treated as high risk because bites can be hard to notice and saliva can enter the body through small cuts or contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. They say people should contact a healthcare provider right away so officials can decide whether rabies vaccines and antibody treatment are needed.