An 11-year-old boy in Northern Ontario, Canada, died of rabies after waking to find a bat on his face, even though he sustained no visible scratches or bites. The incident, detailed in a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, underscores the potential for undetected rabies exposure.
The boy was asleep during the summer of 2024 when the bat landed on his nose and mouth. He swatted the animal away, and his father released it outside. His parents initially saw no need for medical intervention as the child appeared unharmed and exhibited no outward signs of injury.
Approximately 19 days later, the boy began to experience facial numbness and persistent vomiting. He was taken to an urgent care clinic where he was prescribed an antiviral drug. However, his condition worsened, leading to symptoms such as facial weakness, slurred speech, fever, difficulty swallowing, confusion, and visual hallucinations.
He was subsequently admitted to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed rabies. The case marked the first locally acquired rabies infection in Canada since 1967. Despite more than two weeks of intensive treatment, the boy's neurological condition deteriorated, and he was eventually removed from life support.
Dr. Brian Hummel, a pediatric infectious disease specialist involved in the case, emphasized the importance of raising awareness. "If you get symptomatic rabies infection, it is near universally fatal. But if you get the prevention before symptoms develop, it is near universally successful," he stated in the report. The study highlighted that bat bites can be so small they leave no visible trace, potentially delaying diagnosis.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease, but once symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. Human rabies cases are rare in Canada, with only 28 reported since 1924. The family's decision to share the case was aimed at educating the public about the risks and the importance of seeking medical attention even without apparent injury after potential exposure to rabid animals.