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Halton Region Public Health has confirmed the first positive rabies infection in a bat for this year. The bat was found at the intersection of Queen Mary Drive and Bond Street, Oakville, on February 6, 2025, and was sent to the Toronto Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation. In mid-May, the bat began exhibiting signs of rabies and was submitted for testing. The test results confirmed the bat was positive for rabies.

Rabies is a disease in animals caused by a virus that can spread to humans. Infection with the rabies virus leads to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal such as a bat, raccoon, skunk, dog, fox, or other wild animal, usually through a bite or scratch. Rabies illness in humans can be prevented with a rabies vaccine, which is almost 100% effective, but only if it is administered before symptoms occur. If you are potentially exposed to rabies, you need to get this vaccine right away. Once symptoms begin, rabies infection is almost always fatal.

Although rabies in bats is rare, bites from rabid bats have caused almost all human cases of rabies in Canada. Bats have small, needle-like teeth, and their bites can go undetected. If you have been bitten, scratched or exposed to bat saliva, wash any wounds thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. If your healthcare provider recommends that you receive the rabies vaccine, you must adhere to the vaccine administration schedule.

It is not always possible to identify if a bat has rabies, however rabid bats may move slowly, lose the ability to fly, remain active during daylight hours or be unresponsive to loud noises. If you find a bat in your home, do not attempt to move it and contact your local Animal Control Services. To report a wild animal that you suspect may have rabies, follow the steps on ontario.ca/rabies (external link).

Tips on how to protect yourself, your family and your pets from rabies

Know what to do when exposed to a bat or any other high-risk animal:

• Wash all bite or scratch wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
• Collect the contact information of the animal’s owner/custodian where applicable (their name, address and phone number).
• Do not touch dead or sick animals with bare hands. Call animal control services.
• Report all animal bites or scratches to Halton Region Public Health by calling 311.

Take other prevention and safety measures:

• Teach children to stay away from any wild, stray or aggressive animals.
• Do not touch, feed or move wildlife, including young, sick or injured animals.
• Avoid animals that are behaving strangely.
• If you find a stray animal, report it to your local Animal Control Services.
• Do not keep wild animals as pets.
• Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
• Keep your pet on a leash when off your property.
• Bring your pet to a veterinarian if it has come in contact with a bat or other wild animal.
• Animal-proof your home by filling any holes that could allow animals to enter.
• Consider speaking to your healthcare provider about pre-exposure rabies vaccination if traveling to a country where rabies is common.

For more information on rabies, visit halton.ca or contact Halton Region Public Health by calling 311.

About Halton 

The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 650,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and infrastructure planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.