Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaOntario boy died two years ago after a bat sat on his face. There were no visible bitesThe 11-year-old swatted the bat off his face as he woke up during a visit to a cottage. His father caught the bat in a cooking pot and released it outsideLast updated 15 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Human rabies is very rare but is almost always fatal if left untreated. Photo by Peter Scott /PexelsAn 11-year-old Ontario boy who died of rabies after an encounter with a bat should offer a wakeup call for people to be more cautious of such experiences, doctors say.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe warning comes in a newly released report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal titled “Fatal Rabies in a Chid.”“Any direct human contact with a bat, even in the absence of a visible bite or scratch, is an indication for PEP and should be discussed with public health authorities,” the doctors write in the report. PEP is short for post-exposure prophylaxis, and refers to a combination of antibodies and a vaccine given to the patient.The boy’s family reported that, during a visit to a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024, he had been awoken by a bat on his nose and mouth. He swatted the bat off his face, and his father caught it in a cooking pot and released it outside. Since the boy had no visible bites and the bat had not been behaving erratically, the parents did not seek medical attention.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHowever, more than two weeks later the boy developed paresthesia (a tingling sensation), numbness and swelling on the right side of his face. A local urgent care clinic prescribed an antiviral drug.A few days after that the boy was admitted to hospital. His condition continued to worsen, with symptoms including facial weakness, slurred speech, fever, trouble swallowing, confusion and visual hallucinations“He was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit and his neurological condition continued to deteriorate,” the report says. “By his fifth day in hospital, he had no reflexes in his brain stem — the part of the brain that regulates breathing, heart rate and other essential bodily functions.”By this time, doctors had confirmed the diagnosis of rabies. “Subsequent testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified a bat rabies virus variant,” they write. However, despite the effectiveness of early use of PEP, and despite decades of research, “no proven effective therapy exists after symptom onset.”They add in the report: “Life-sustaining therapies were withdrawn on day 17 of admission, and he died peacefully with his family at his bedside.”The report notes that if the bat or other animal is available for rabies testing, results can be obtained within 48 hours, with PEP held pending those results.“In the common circumstance that a bat is found in the bedroom of a sleeping person with no recognized physical contact, this is not considered an indication for PEP,” it notes. “The patient we described reported a bat resting on his face, which is an indication for PEP; however, medical attention was not sought because no obvious bite was noted.”It adds: “This highlights an important gap in public awareness. Although rabid bats may show unusual behaviour — such as appearing during the daytime, resting on the ground or someone’s face, having difficulty flying, or being easily approached — the absence of these behaviours does not exclude rabies.”It says PEP can be started in consultation with local public health authorities, who can help guide risk assessment, management decisions and procurement. “Adverse effects associated with PEP are generally mild and include reactions at injection sites and transient systemic symptoms,” it adds.The doctors note that while human rabies is almost always fatal if untreated, it is also “exceedingly rare” in Canada, with only 28 cases reported over the last 102 years. “This patient’s was the first case of locally acquired rabies reported in Ontario since 1967,” they write.The doctors provide an acknowledgement to the boy’s family, thanking them for their willingness to share details about the case “in hopes of increasing awareness about this rare infection.”Health Canada provides a variety of information online about rabies and its treatments.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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