Brantford child’s rabies death raises concerns as Windsor-Essex sees rise in bat bites

The rabies-related loss of life of a Brantford-area baby is highlighting considerations Windsor-Essex well being officers flagged following an increase in bat bites.

At the latest assembly of the Windsor-Essex County Well being Unit’s (WECHU) Board of Administrators, members obtained a report from the Environmental Well being Division, displaying a spike in animal chew investigations in 2023, significantly involving bats.

“I’m involved,” mentioned Dr. Medhi Aloosh, WECHU’s medical officer of well being.

“My message to the neighborhood is just remember to will not be uncovered to wild animals, significantly bats.”

The Brantford-area baby who died from rabies is believed to have been uncovered to the virus within the Timiskaming area, north of Sudbury.

“They awakened with a bat of their room,” detailed Dr. Malcolm Lock of the Haldimand-Norfolk Well being Unit.

“The dad and mom seemed, didn’t see any indicators of a chew or scratches or saliva and didn’t search getting a rabies vaccine.”

The kid’s age has not been launched.

The an infection was confirmed on Sept. 6, with Public Well being Ontario saying it was the primary case of home human rabies recorded since 1967.

It was that an infection which prompted WECHU’s report and Dr. Aloosh’s feedback, made simply days earlier than the kid died.

“That is the primary case in additional than half a century,” Dr. Aloosh mentioned following the Sept. 26 WECHU assembly.

“The chance is comparatively low as a result of now we have an excellent program when it comes to post-exposure prophylaxis,” he added, urging anybody who might need been uncovered to name the well being unit or their healthcare supplier.

Up to now this yr, the well being unit stories 48 rabies post-exposure prophylaxis therapies (rPEP) have been administered as of Sept. 10, three associated to bat publicity.

WECHU reported they’ve investigated 696 animal bites — eight from bats.

Final yr, the well being unit issued 60 rPEP therapies — 16 associated to bat publicity. It investigated 1,075 animal bites, 34 of which had been from bats.

Dr. Aloosh emphasised the significance of guaranteeing pets are updated on vaccinations and that kids are taught to respect wild animals and hold a secure distance.

“There have been many instances that children had been enjoying with bats — lifeless bats,” Dr. Aloosh mentioned.

“So, there’s some training that we have to do for our neighborhood.”