Canadian boy, 11, died from rabies after waking up with bat on his mouth

Key Points:

• An 11-year-old Canadian boy died from rabies after waking with a bat on his face during a cottage visit in northern Ontario in 2024; the bat was released without medical evaluation as there were no visible bite marks or erratic behavior.
• Symptoms began 19 days later with facial tingling, swelling, and loss of appetite, initially misdiagnosed as herpes-related Bell’s palsy; the boy's condition rapidly worsened leading to hospital admission and eventual rabies diagnosis confirmed by PCR.
• Rabies is a fatal viral infection affecting the central nervous system, usually transmitted via bites or exposure to infected animal fluids; human cases are rare in Canada, with this being the first locally acquired case in Ontario since 1967.
• The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and CDC emphasize the importance of avoiding contact with wild animals, ensuring pet vaccinations, and seeking immediate medical care after potential exposure to prevent rabies through post-exposure prophylaxis.
• Rabies symptoms typically appear 20 to 60 days post-exposure and include flu-like signs progressing to neurological issues; once symptoms manifest, the disease is almost always fatal within one to two weeks.