First human case of rabies in Ontario since 1967 confirmed in Brantford-Brant resident

Ontario reported the first domestically transmitted case of rabies in humans since 1967.

The Brant County Health Authority said Friday that a Brantford-Brant resident is currently hospitalized with the virus. The authority added that the infection is suspected to have been transmitted from a bat in the Gowanda area of ​​the Timiskaming region, north of Sudbury.

Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of Ontario's health department, said in a statement Friday that authorities believe the person became infected after “direct contact” with a bat in Ontario. No details about the person are being released for privacy reasons, he said.

Brant County Health Officer Dr. Rebecca Comley expressed her condolences to the patient.

“Our sincere thoughts are with this individual and his or her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” she said in the press release.

Comley said there has never been a confirmed case of rabies in a Brantford-Brant resident before.

Bats are known to transmit rabies in all areas of Ontario, the agency said in a press release.

Close contacts are being investigated, says medical officer

Moore said the person's close contacts, including family members and healthcare workers, are being screened and offered post-exposure prophylaxis as a precaution.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and spinal cord, he added.

“Anyone in Ontario who has direct physical contact with a bat should seek medical attention immediately, even if no bite or scratch is visible, or who has been bitten or come into contact with saliva or infectious tissue from another animal species,” Moore said.

“The doctor will assess the risk of rabies in consultation with the local health authority and, if necessary, offer vaccinations to prevent infection.”

Moore said that if contact with rabies is suspected, immediate medical attention is critical.

“Post-exposure medical care includes washing the affected area with soap and water as soon as possible, a dose of rabies immunoglobulin, and a series of rabies vaccinations, which must be administered as soon as possible after exposure. This treatment is almost 100 percent effective when administered promptly.”

According to the health authority, cases of rabies in humans are so rare that there have only been 26 cases in Canada since 1924. No case of human-to-human transmission has ever been documented.

The Brant County Health Department offers the following tips to help you protect yourself and your pets:

• By law, people are required to keep their pets and livestock vaccinations up to date.
• Do not touch unknown animals.
• Keep pets away from wild animals.
• Supervise children when they are around animals.
• Do not allow pets to roam freely outdoors.
• Feed your pets indoors, as outdoor food can attract unwanted animals.

If someone comes into direct contact with a bat or an animal known to transmit rabies and that animal bites or scratches a person, the person is advised to immediately wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention.