Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) confirmed the first case of rabies in a Brantford-Brant resident on Friday, September 6, 2024.
The health unit, in a statement, said the exposure to the virus came from a bat in the Gowganda area of Timiskaming.
“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,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Province of Ontario.
Rabies is a viral infection that causes brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with saliva or mucous of an infected animal, such as through a bite or scratch. Bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons are the most common animals to have rabies in Canada. Even tiny bites or scratches, which can be difficult to see, can transmit the virus.
Rabies cases in humans are rare. There has never been a confirmed case of rabies in a Brantford-Brant resident. Ontario’s last domestic case of human rabies occurred in 1967. There have been 26 human cases in Canada since 1924.
“Our heartfelt thoughts are with this individual and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Rabies, though rare, is a serious virus in humans. If you have direct contact with any animal known to carry rabies, you should seek immediate medical attention,” said Dr. Rebecca Comley, Medical Officer of Health, Brant County Health Unit
To date, there has never been a documented case of human-to-human transmission of rabies virus. As a precaution, family members and other close contacts are being assessed and offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), as needed.
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. 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.
Immediate medical care following suspected rabies exposures is critical. 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. This treatment is nearly 100 per cent effective when administered promptly.
