Ontario has seen its first rabies infection in 50 years. Here's what you need to know about the infection

For the first time in 50 years, a person in Ontario has contracted rabies.

It came from a bat in the Temiskaming district in northern Ontario. 

Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health for Ontario, said the person became infected after "direct contact" with a bat, in a statement released Friday. 

And while the Brant County Health Unit says the individual is being treated in the hospital, some are left wondering what we need to know about rabies. 

Most people might have general knowledge about the infection, and although it hasn't infected anyone in the last five decades, University of Guelph veterinarian Dr. Scott Weese says rabies is always a concern nonetheless. 

"We should always be concerned about rabies, and this doesn't change that. It's just a reminder," he said. "Rabies hasn't changed, we've just had no fortunate infection with it." 

"But we should be concerned about it because it's circulating in wildlife and if you develop rabies, it's almost invariably fatal." 

In that case, the exposure to a bat versus another animal, like a skunk or raccoon, is slightly different. 

Weese says that bat bites are significantly different because their teeth are so small — meaning a tiny puncture might even go unnoticed. 

"We get exposed to rabies from saliva and bites are the main way we get that. And if you're bitten by a dog, that's an obvious event, you're more likely to pay attention to it and get health care," he said. 

"If you're bitten by a bat … they don't cause much trauma. You're not going to go to the doctor because of the bite injury. So you have to be aware of rabies to even initiate that." 

He says once someone forms symptoms it's almost always fatal. 

But doctors can intervene with post exposure treatment before symptoms begin, to prevent radiation from developing, he said, with a series of several vaccines. 

What you need to know

Earlier this summer, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit sent out a release warning about bats carrying the infectious disease. 

In Ontario, bats are the only species "that consistently carry rabies," said the unit's medical office of health Dr. Linna Li. 

The province doesn't actively monitor bats, but Li says about five per cent have tested positive for rabies. 

While bats are the main mammal that carry rabies, other mammals like dogs and raccoons can carry the infection although it is rare. 

Like Weese, she agrees that it is possible to not notice a rash from a rabies bite. 

"We say as a rule of thumb for a bat, we're not necessarily explicitly looking for a bite or scratch — really any sort of exposure," she said. 

"I mean, if they're flopping around the room, that's not an exposure. If they land on something and then you touch that thing, also not an exposure. But a direct exposure you should definitely get tested." 

Currently, the health unit is offering a low cost rabies vaccination clinic — she says it's a gentle reminder to get your pets vaccinated for the infection. 

"There is a requirement for them to be vaccinated by law," she said. "We are working with veterinarians in our region… if you have a pet and live in the LGL region, you're welcome to come."