Canadian Boy Dies of Rabies After Bat Wakes Him

Sun Sep 06 2026 17:19:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An 11‑year‑old boy in Ontario fell ill after a bat bit him. Find out why instant rabies shots are vital and Canada's low‑case but still fatal virus risk.

An 11‑year‑old Canadian boy in Ontario was bitten by a bat while at a family cottage, but parents didn’t seek immediate care. Symptoms such as facial numbness, swelling, and eventual paralysis appeared 19 days later, prompting emergency visits. Doctors suspected rabies before a test confirmed the diagnosis, and the child died 17 days after hospitalization. This case highlights the importance of post‑exposure prophylaxis and the continued risk of rabies despite low national incidence.

Canadian boy dies of rabies after bat wakes him

An 11‑year‑old boy in Ontario, Canada, died last week after a bat woke him on his face at a family cottage. The bite left no obvious marks, so the parents didn’t seek medical care right away. Yet, 19 days later, the boy showed numbness and swelling on his face, which led to a potential rabies diagnosis.

At first, emergency doctors treated him for herpes‑like infections and Bell’s palsy, assuming a temporary facial paralysis. Once symptoms escalated—high fever, difficulty swallowing and hallucinations—he was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit. Doctors in Manitoba suspected rabies just before testing confirmed the rabies virus variant from a Canadian bat.

He ultimately succumbed to the disease 17 days after hospitalization. Canada has only 28 recorded human deaths from rabies since 1924, but the low incidence is largely thanks to widespread animal vaccination programs. Lack of ongoing vaccination would threaten these gains.

Key take‑away: any physical contact with a bat is a reason to receive rabies post‑exposure prophylaxis immediately. The treatment is almost 100% effective when given early, but once symptoms begin, the disease is almost always fatal.

What to do if you encounter a bat