Ontario Confirms First Rabies Case this Century

The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) has received confirmation of a human case of rabies in a resident of Brantford-Brant, Ontario, Canada.

As of September 6, 2024, the individual was hospitalized. As a precaution, family members and other close contacts are being assessed and offered post-exposure prophylaxis, as needed. 

While the suspected exposure of the case was from a bat in the Gowganda area of the Timiskaming region, bats in all areas of Ontario are known to carry rabies. Bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons are the most common to spread the rabies virus in Canada.

Ontario’s last domestic case of human rabies occurred in 1967, and there have been 26 human cases in Canada since 1924.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that dogs spread most rabies cases globally. To date, there has never been a documented case of human-to-human transmission of rabies virus.

Once the virus infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in 100% of cases. There are an estimated 59,000 deaths from rabies annually. However, due to underreporting, documented case numbers often differ from the estimate, says the WHO.

Even though rabies is well-controlled in the United States, over 4 million Americans report animal bites each year, with 800,000 seeking medical attention.

In 2022, 54 U.S. jurisdictions reported 3,579 animal rabies cases. However, only ten people die from rabies infection annually in the U.S.

Rabies is a viral infection that causes brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with saliva or mucous of an infected animal, such as through a bite or scratch. Even tiny bites or scratches, which can be challenging to see, can transmit the virus. 

Effective rabies vaccines are available to immunize people before and after potential exposures.

As of 2024, three WHO pre-qualified human rabies vaccines, RABIVAX-S, VaxiRab N, and VERORAB, are available globally. In the United States, rabies vaccines are generally offered at travel clinics and pharmacies. 

Note: This news article was updated on Sept. 28, 2024.