Ontario’s First Case of Human Rabies Since 1967 Confirmed in Brant County

Officials in the southern Ontario community of Brant County have confirmed a human case of rabies in a local resident, the first rabies case in the province since 1967. Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) said the rabies is believed to have been contracted from a bat in the Gowganda area of the Timiskaming region in northeastern Ontario. The individual has been hospitalized, according to a Sept. 6 BCHU news release. Brant County is a largely rural municipality about an hour southwest of Toronto. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with this individual and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” health unit medical officer of health Dr. Rebecca Comley said. “Rabies, though rare, is a serious virus in humans. If you have direct contact with any animal known to carry rabies, you should seek immediate medical attention.”...