Rabies Case Confirmed in Brantford-Brant
Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued a statement regarding a confirmed case of rabies in a resident of Brantford-Brant. The illness is believed to have been contracted through direct contact with a bat in Ontario. To maintain the privacy of the affected individual, no further details will be disclosed.
As a precautionary measure, family members, healthcare providers, and other close contacts are being evaluated and may receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as necessary.
Rabies is a viral infection that leads to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is typically transmitted to humans via the saliva of an infected animal, often through bites or scratches. In Canada, rabies is most commonly found in bats, but variants also circulate in skunks, foxes, and raccoons.
The statement emphasized the importance of immediate medical attention for anyone in Ontario who has direct contact with a bat or has been bitten or exposed to saliva from another potentially infected animal. Healthcare providers, in consultation with local public health units, will assess the risk of rabies and may recommend vaccinations to prevent infection.
Post-exposure treatment includes washing the affected area with soap and water, administering rabies immune globulin, and a series of rabies vaccines, which are nearly 100% effective when given promptly. This case marks the first domestically acquired human rabies case in Ontario since 1967. Since 1924, Canada has reported only 26 known cases of rabies in humans.
