New details have emerged
about the tragic
2024 rabies death of an 11-year-old Canadian boy. The youngster, who hasn't been named, succumbed to the deadly disease after being awoken by a bat on his nose and mouth. The incident occurred during a visit to a cottage in northern Ontario,
according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The boy, who was on vacation with his family, smacked the bat off his face. His father caught the winged mammal in a pot and released it. The child had no visible bite marks and the episode was quickly forgotten. However, 19 days later he began to display worrying symptoms, including fever and vomiting. After being taken to hospital, his condition worsened and then rapidly deteriorated. An MRI scan found lesions on the brain stem and tests indicated rabies. The child died on his 17th day in hospital.
Indeed, rabies remains to date the most lethal infectious disease known to humans. It is most prevalent in Asia and Africa, which account for over 95% of the estimated 59,000 human deaths caused by rabies annually. Rabies deaths are preventable, but immediate medical intervention is essential before symptoms start.
In this gallery, we examine the history of the disease, how it's transmitted, and profile the pioneering physicians and virologists who developed the rabies vaccine. Click on to continue reading.