An 11-year-old boy in Ontario, Canada, has died from rabies after an encounter with a bat.
The incident occurred during a summer stay at a cottage in Northern Ontario, where the child woke up with a bat on his face.
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According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, this is the first locally acquired human rabies infection in Ontario since 1967.
The boy had no visible bite or scratch marks, so his parents did not seek immediate medical attention after his father caught the bat and released it outside.
Symptoms began 19 days later, including nausea, pain, and facial numbness. The condition rapidly worsened with fever, hallucinations, and difficulty swallowing.
Initially misdiagnosed with herpes gingivostomatitis, the boy was later admitted to intensive care, where rabies was confirmed. He died after 17 days of treatment.
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Health officials emphasize that human rabies cases are extremely rare in Canada, with only 28 documented since 1924.
However, the disease is nearly 100 percent fatal once neurological symptoms appear.
Post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective if administered immediately after any suspected contact with a carrier animal.
Medical researchers stress the need for immediate evaluation after any potential interaction with bats, regardless of visible injuries.
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"If contact cannot be ruled out, the animal should be captured and tested, and health authorities should be contacted immediately," the researchers stated.
