Rabies in people is rare, but can be deadly: Mississauga officials

Mississauga residents are being urged to take precautions after regional health officials confirmed two cases of rabies in bats late last month.

The cases — one in south Mississauga, the other near Professor’s Lake in Brampton — were confirmed by Peel Public Health officials on Aug. 29.

City of Mississauga officials said in a news release issued Monday that “while no humans have been affected yet in Peel, rabies is a serious health risk, so it’s important to be informed and stay safe.

“Rabies is a serious disease that can turn a simple animal bite or scratch into a life-threatening situation.”

While no human cases have yet been reported in Mississauga or Brampton, the first such case in Ontario in half-a-century was reported last Friday.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, confirmed a resident of Brantford tested positive for rabies last week.

Prior to the most recent rabies cases in bats, Peel Public Health confirmed two rabid bats last year, two in 2022, two in 2020 and four in 2019.

Mississauga officials note rabies, while very rare in humans, is a potentially deadly virus that attacks the nervous system and can spread from infected animals to people. It usually spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

“Once in the body, the virus travels through the nervous system to the spinal cord and brain, replicating itself, and then travelling to other areas of the body,” city officials said in the news release.

Rabies symptoms can include anxiety, cough, fever, headaches, irritability, sore throat and tiredness. Someone who has been exposed to rabies without treatment might also experience pain, tingling, numbness or itching around the wound.

As the virus spreads, more symptoms appear, including:

• confusion
• excitement
• hallucinations
• inability to drink water
• increased saliva production
• partial paralysis
• trouble sleeping
• trouble swallowing

Symptoms can take between three to eight weeks to appear after exposure, officials say, and they can progress quickly once the virus starts attacking the central nervous system. The virus can be fatal within weeks of symptoms developing.

People are urged to keep a safe distance from any wild animal, especially those that might be showing symptoms of rabies.

Signs of rabies in animals include:

• unusual aggression or friendliness
• trouble swallowing or excessive drooling
• stumbling or paralysis
• nocturnal animals (like raccoons and bats) being active during the day

“Pet owners can never be too careful and should keep an eye out for signs,” the city said. “The incubation period for rabies in dogs and cats, for example, is generally 10 days.”

Anyone who sees an animal displaying symptoms should call Mississauga Animal Services at 905-896-5858.

“If you have been bitten by or scratched by a wild animal, speak to a health-care provider as soon as possible. Rabies is preventable through prompt medical care,” Peel Public Health said earlier.