Ontario boy dies of rabies after bat exposure
Rabies from bat contact: know the warning signs and act fast after exposure Get public health help quickly to prevent a rare but often fatal infection
An 11yearold boy in Ontario, Canada, died after developing rabies following contact with a bat, according to a medical journal report published Monday.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal said the boy was asleep at a cottage in northern Ontario when a bat landed on his face. His family did not notice signs of a bite or scratch, and they did not seek immediate medical care.
Doctors said the child was hospitalized about 20 days later after his condition worsened rapidly. He was treated in hospital for more than two weeks before life support was withdrawn. The report warned that any direct contact with a bat should be discussed with public health authorities, even if no visible injury is present. Rabies is usually fatal once symptoms appear, but postexposure prophylaxis is highly effective when given soon after exposure.