Resident in treatment after rabid bat found in Hamilton

A rabid bat sent a Hamilton resident to hospital for the first time in more than a year.

The bat is the first to test positive for rabies in the city since August 2023.

“This serves as a reminder to stay away from bats and other animals that can carry rabies such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, as well as stray or unknown cats and dogs,” the city wrote.

More than 330 animals, mostly skunks and raccoons have tested positive for the virus in the last ten years. Aside from skunks and raccoons one fox and two stray cats tested positive. Additionally, the city finds at least one rabies-infected bat every year.

Rabies is a virus spread through saliva, usually via animal bites. Early symptoms include a fever and strange feelings near the exposure site.

Symptoms soon escalate to nausea, vomiting, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, partial paralysis, confusion, delirium, unconsciousness and ultimately death.

The fear of water prevents the patient from drinking leading to heavy saliva frothing at the mouth, aiding the spread of the virus.

Once symptoms emerge, the result is almost always death as there is no known cure for rabies. Only 14 people in the entire world have ever been recorded surviving rabies after symptoms present.

However, symptoms can take months to present depending on how far the virus has to travel to impact the central nervous system.

In the Americas, bat bites are the most common source of infection. The disease can be treated after infection with a rabies vaccine, but only before symptoms appear.

Every year, rabies claims about 59,000 lives worldwide.

To avoid exposure, keep away from wild animals, most especially raccoons, skunks, bats, and unknown dogs and cats. Residents should also bat-proof their homes and vaccinate their pets.