Area bat with rabies likely bit person in Brantford/Brant: health officials

A local resident is being treated for rabies as investigators believe they were bitten by a rabies-positive bat in Brantford.

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The Brant County Health Unit confirmed Wednesday this is Brantford’s first case of suspected human exposure to an animal with rabies this year.

“Rabies, though rare, is a serious virus in humans,” said Dr. Rebecca Comley, Brant’s medical officer of health in a news release.

“If you have direct contact with any animal known to carry rabies, you should seek immediate medical attention. Although the risk of encountering a rabid animal in our community remains low, it’s important to recognize that rabies is present in Brantford-Brant and throughout Ontario.”

Health unit investigators can’t be certain that the rabies-infected bat was the one that bit someone here but know that a bat bit a person and escaped. Later a bat was found dead in the home and, after being submitted for testing, showed positive for rabies.

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“We cannot say definitively that the bat the individual was bitten by is the one that later tested positive but we are operating as such,” said health unit spokesperson Ryan Spiteri.

The news comes just weeks after a local resident was hospitalized with rabies but, in that case, the suspected exposure to the virus is believed to have come from a bat in the Gowganda area of ​​Timiskaming.

That was not only the first-ever confirmed case of rabies in a Brantford-Brant resident but Ontario’s first case of rabies known since 1967.

The health unit hasn’t released any information about that person’s condition, saying it’s private healthcare information.

The health unit said the person suspected of being bitten by the infected, local bat isn’t showing signs of rabies-related symptoms but is getting a rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes human rabies immune globulin and a four-dose series of vaccines .

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The health unit says there’s a low chance of coming across a rabies-infected animal in Ontario but wild animals like foxes, raccoons, skunks and bats can spread the virus through bites or even scratches.

To avoid exposure, don’t touch, feed or approach wild animals, even if they look healthy; make sure pets are up to date with vaccinations; and stay away from any animals that are acting strangely, are injured or appear sick.

If you find a bat in your home, call Animal Services at 311 instead of trying to remove it yourself.

Human rabies can be prevented with a very effective rabies vaccine but only if it’s administered before symptoms begin.

After symptoms start, the rabies are considered contagious and can cause brain and spinal cord inflammation.

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Symptoms of rabies in animals include: odd behavior that’s either excited or very lethargic, attacking objects or other animals, frothing at the mouth and biting.

Since rabies is spread to humans through direct contact like bites or scratches, the health unit will investigate all animal bites or scratches on humans that are reported.

If bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, wash the area immediately with soap and water, seek medical attention, and report the incident to the health unit at 519-753-4937, ext. 470.

Children should always alert an adult about the bite or scratch because even tiny, difficult to see scratches can transmit the virus.

Anyone who believes a pet has come into contact with a rabid animal should call their veterinarian immediately. Pet rabies vaccinations should be kept up to date.

There have been 26 cases of human rabies in Canada since 1924, said the health unit.

For more information about rabies in humans, go to www.bchu.org/rabies or phone 519-753-4937, ext. 470.

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