11-Year-Old Canadian Boy Dies of Rabies After Waking Up With Bat on His Face

The death of an 11-year-old Canadian boy is a heart-breaking reminder of how the worst-case medical emergency can be triggered by a seemingly minor encounter with wildlife. The boy died weeks after waking to find a bat on his face while he was sleeping.

At first, the boy didn’t get post-exposure treatment as he had no visible bite marks, scratches or open wounds. His family, as you would expect, didn't have a clue anything was wrong.

But he didn't develop symptoms for weeks and was admitted to hospital, by which time the virus had taken root. His tragic tale highlights one of the often misunderstood elements of rabies and wildlife safety:

The Hidden Hazard of Bat Bites

The biggest misconception about rabies is that you’ll always know you’ve been bitten.

Bat bites can be microscopic and razor sharp. It’s tiny little marks. They can scratch or bite so lightly they don’t leave a clear puncture wound or draw visible blood and can be easily missed altogether.

A threat that can fool you: Due to this hidden threat, health officials say if you wake up with a bat in your room or come in direct contact with one, you should seek medical advice immediately, even if you feel fine and do not see any marks on your skin. A threat that can fool you: Due to this hidden threat, health officials say if you wake up with a bat in your room or come in direct contact with one, you should seek medical advice immediately, even if you feel fine and do not see any marks on your skin.

Understanding the disease

The rabies virus targets the central nervous system, and its timeline is famously treacherous. The rabies virus targets the central nervous system, and its timeline is famously treacherous. Weeks can go by after exposure, and a person feels perfectly healthy. The virus can be moving silently through the body. Weeks can go by after exposure, and a person feels perfectly healthy. The virus can be moving silently through the body.

Symptoms of the disease may take a while to develop, and when they do, they are often similar to a common illness, causing fever, headache and general fatigue. Symptoms of the disease may take a while to develop, and when they do, they are often similar to a common illness, causing fever, headache and general fatigue. But with the evolution of the disease, there is a rapid development of severe neurological complications. But with the evolution of the disease, there is a rapid development of severe neurological complications. Patients can develop profound confusion, muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing and paralysis. Patients can develop profound confusion, muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing and paralysis. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. There is no cure. Doctors can only provide supportive care in a hospital setting. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. There is no cure. Doctors can only provide supportive care in a hospital setting.

The Important Lesson: Precautionary Measures The Important Lesson: Precautionary Measures

Rabies is 100% preventable, but only if medical treatment starts immediately after exposure, well before any symptoms begin. This preventative treatment is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and it’s a series of highly effective vaccinations and immune globulin shots that stop the virus in its tracks.

Public health officials are encouraging families to share this:

Never Wait: If you or a family member comes into any contact with a bat, seek medical attention immediately. Don’t wait for a symptom or look for a bite mark first.

Maintain distance. Teach children not to touch bats or any wild animals.

Protect Your Home: Have your household pets vaccinated against rabies and check your home for any possible bat entryways to keep them from getting into bedrooms in the first place.