An 11-year-old boy from Ontario tragically passed away due to rabies after having a rather alarming encounter with a bat at night, as noted by medical professionals.
The boy’s family was vacationing at a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024 when he was awakened by the bat on his face, according to a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal published recently.
Immediately reacting, the child swatted the bat away. His father then managed to capture the creature in a cooking pot and released it outside.
Interestingly, the child didn’t show any visible injuries, and his parents thought that the bat had not harmed him. This led them to avoid seeking medical help, even though health officials advise anyone having contact with a bat should be checked for potential rabies exposure since minor bites can often go unnoticed.
Weeks later, however, the boy started to experience noticeable symptoms—swelling in his face and paralysis. As the situation escalated, he was taken to various clinics and emergency departments, where doctors attempted to find out what was wrong. Initially, he was treated for Bell’s palsy and herpes and was even sent home.
But shortly after, he had to return to the emergency room. While waiting for care, he developed a fever, followed by confusion and severe hallucinations. His health deteriorated rapidly, and by night, he had to be intubated and taken into a pediatric care unit.
During the examination, the infectious disease team “strongly suspected rabies, considering the bat exposure and typical neurological symptoms,” as detailed in the report.
Sadly, the child lost function in his brain stem and passed away 17 days after being admitted to the hospital.
Rabies is a viral condition that can be transmitted through bites and scratches from an infected animal, as stated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It primarily impacts the central nervous system, often resulting in severe brain complications and, frequently, death.
Once rabies symptoms show, it is nearly always fatal, but it can be prevented with appropriate treatment, according to the medical journal. Cases of rabies in humans are extremely rare in the U.S. and Canada, with fewer than 10 fatalities reported annually. This incident marks the first rabies-related death in Ontario since 1967.
