Domestic human case of rabies first in Ontario since 1967

A resident of Brantford-Brant has contacted rabies in what health officials believe was likely a result of coming into contact with a bat in Ontario.

“Brant County Health Unit has received laboratory confirmation of a human case of rabies in a resident of Brantford-Brant,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, in a released statement. “The illness is suspected to have been acquired from direct contact with a bat in Ontario.”

To ensure privacy for the family, no further information about the individual will be released,” added Moore.

As a precaution, Moore added that family members as well as health care providers and other close contacts are also being assessed and offed offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), as needed.

The viral infection causes brain and spinal cord inflammation and is typically spread to humans through direct contact with saliva of an infected animal, such as through a bite or scratch.

Rabies is commonly found in bats in Canada, but variants of the rabies infection from skunks, foxes and racoons are also here in the province.

“If anyone in Ontario has direct physical contact with a bat, even if there is no visible bite or scratch, or if they have been bitten or exposed to saliva or infectious tissues from another animal species, they should seek immediate medical attention,” said provincial health officials. “The health care provider, in consultation with the local public health unit, will assess the risk of rabies and may offer vaccines to prevent infection.”

Health officials are reminding residents that immediate medical care is critical following suspected rabies exposure.

“Post-exposure medical care includes washing the area with soap and water as soon as possible, a dose of rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccines which must be administered as soon as possible after exposure,” said provincial health officials. “This treatment is nearly 100 per cent effective when administered promptly.”

Cases of human rabies are extremely rare due to effective public health prevention and control measures.

The domestically acquired case of human rabies in Brantford-Brant is the first in the province since 1967.

There have only been 26 other known cases of rabies in humans across Canada since reporting began in 1924.