A bat is seen mid-flight in this generic image from Getty.
A child in northern Ontario has tragically died from rabies after being exposed to a bat, according to a provincial health official. Dr. Malcolm Lock, the acting medical officer for the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, confirmed the child's death during a health board meeting.
The exposure occurred in northern Ontario, where the child woke up to find a bat in the room. Despite checking for visible signs of bites or scratches, the parents found none and chose not to pursue rabies vaccination, Dr. Lock explained. Unfortunately, the child later passed away from the virus.
Rabies in humans is extremely rare, but Dr. Lock pointed out that the disease is becoming more common among bats, with a 16% positivity rate recorded this year—higher than in previous years. Although the rabies case discussed during the meeting occurred outside the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s jurisdiction, it highlights a concerning trend. Recent rabies cases have been reported in nearby Brant County, with a resident hospitalized earlier in September after suspected exposure in the Timiskaming region of northern Ontario.
The Brant County Health Unit confirmed that there has been only one human case of rabies in the county. Further details about the case were not released, but both Haldimand-Norfolk and Brant County health units are considering a merger to streamline efforts.
Rabies is an often fatal virus that affects the nervous system, causing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Since 1924, fewer than 30 human rabies cases have been recorded in Canada. Health Canada notes that all cases since 1967 have resulted either from bat exposure within Canada or from encounters with rabid animals abroad.
Dr. Scott Weese, an infectious disease expert from the Ontario Veterinary College, emphasized the importance of avoiding contact with wildlife and ensuring pets are vaccinated. While raccoons, skunks, and foxes are known to carry rabies, bats pose a unique risk because their bites can be so small they go unnoticed.
If anyone comes into contact with a bat, Weese urges them to contact public health authorities for a risk assessment. Post-exposure treatment involves an injection of antibodies and a series of rabies vaccines over the course of a few weeks. To be effective, the first treatment must be administered within 48 hours. Dr. Lock stressed the urgency of seeking medical attention after any possible rabies exposure, as nearly all untreated cases result in death.
