Ontario’s First Human Rabies Case in 60 Years: What Happened?

[Music] in a shocking turn of events Ontario has reported its first human case of rabies in nearly six decades what caused it how rare is this virus and what should you do to stay safe stay tuned to find out all the details the brand County health unit located just west of Hamilton confirmed this rare case on Friday the virus is believed to have been transmitted by a bat leading to the hospitalization of an unfortunate individual rabies might sound like something from a scary movie but in humans it's a serious virus it's known to cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and it can spread through direct contact with saliva or mucus from infected [Music] animals Dr Rebecca kley brand County's medical officer of Health expressed deep concern rabies though rare is a serious virus in humans if you come into contact with any animal known to carry rabies seek medical attention right away now this case is pretty historic since 1924 Canada has only reported 26 cases of human rabies the last time we saw one in Ontario was back in 1967 that's over 50 years ago but here's some good news rabies can't be spread from one human to another it only transfers from animals to humans so while this case is rare it's not contagious among [Music] people if you ever think you've been exposed to rabies Don't Panic immediate action can save lives wash the area with soap and water and get medical care right [Music] away with modern treatment which includes a series of vaccines the chance of recovery is nearly 100% thanks to effective Public Health measures rabies cases have remained incredibly low Ontario's chief medical officer Dr Kieran Moore emphasized that human rabies remains extremely rare in [Music] Canada as rare as rabies is it's still important to stay cautious if you encounter Wildlife like bats raccoons or skunks keep your distance and ensure pets are vaccinated prevention is key to keeping rabies under control that's all for today's health update stay safe out there and make sure to subscribe for the latest news that matters to you [Music]