11-Year-Old Boy Dies of Rabies After Bat Lands on His Face While Sleeping

An 11-year-old boy has died of rabies after coming into contact with a bat, despite showing no visible bite marks, CNN reported on July 1 (local time).

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), the boy was sleeping in a cabin in Ontario, Canada, in 2024 when he woke up feeling something on his mouth and nose.

The object was a bat, which the boy swatted away from his face with his hand.

At the time, the boy had no visible bite marks, and the bat did not appear to be acting strangely, so his parents did not seek medical attention.

However, 19 days after the incident, the boy began to experience progressive paralysis on the right side of his face, along with a loss of appetite and facial swelling.

Four days after the symptoms began, he visited a local emergency clinic, where he was diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis caused by a herpes virus infection and was prescribed medication.

After three days of medication failed to improve his condition, the boy was transferred to the emergency room of a city hospital in Ontario.

Although his parents informed the medical staff about the bat incident, the doctors diagnosed him with gingivostomatitis, a herpes virus infection that causes sores on the lips and mouth, and discharged him.

The day after being discharged, the boy developed a fever, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations, and confusion. His condition deteriorated rapidly that night, and he was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator.

He was later confirmed to have rabies and received treatment, but he passed away 17 days after being hospitalized.

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) website, rabies can be transmitted through bites from infected animals or if an animal's bodily fluids enter the nose, mouth, or eyes.

The CVMA stated that while thousands of cases of animal rabies are confirmed in Canada each year, there have been only 28 cases of human rabies since 1924.

While 99% of human rabies cases globally are caused by dogs, bats are considered the primary source of infection in the Americas, where dog populations are controlled.

In Canada, skunks and foxes are also known to be major vectors for transmitting rabies.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.