Overview
- The Canadian Medical Association Journal published the medical case on Monday revealing that an 11-year-old who fell ill in summer 2024 died of rabies after a bat rested on his nose and mouth.
- The boy’s family saw no visible bite or scratch and released the bat, so they did not seek care at the time which delayed consideration of preventive treatment.
- Nineteen days after the encounter he developed tingling, vomiting and other nonspecific symptoms, was initially assessed for more common illnesses, then rapidly declined and died after 17 days in intensive care.
- Doctors stress that post-exposure prophylaxis consists of human rabies immune globulin plus a four-dose vaccine schedule starting immediately and that this treatment is highly effective if given before symptoms appear.
- Human rabies in Canada is very rare with 28 reported cases since 1924, there is no sign of onward human transmission, and the family consented to publication to spur public awareness and earlier PEP consultation ahead of summer months.