Boy, 11, dies of rabies after bat encounter during family trip | newscentermaine.com
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/nation-world/boy-dies-of-rabies-after-bat-encounter-during-family-trip-ontario/507-f5b3e567-d458-4744-9767-8d44ef982467
Tragic story but a reminder to those of us in North America and other rabies endemic regions not to fuck around with bats. From the article :
Doctors emphasized that any direct contact with a bat — even without an obvious bite or scratch — should prompt a discussion with public health authorities about preventive treatment, since bat bites can be too small to notice.
Remember, the only effective treatment is prophylactic (essentially rush immunizing the patient before the virus actual sets in) so even the earliest symptoms are too late a warning. Be over cautious, be paranoid, and if you have the animal trapped, call the health department to see if it can be tested.













