A bat found in Burlington has tested positive for rabies, marking the first confirmed bat rabies case in Halton Region this year. Halton Region Public Health confirmed the result on August 14, 2026. The bat was found in Burlington on August 11.
Rabies is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Health officials warn that bat bites can easily go undetected because bats have small, needle-like teeth. Bites from rabid bats have caused almost all human cases of rabies in Canada. Anyone who may have been exposed to this bat should wash any wounds thoroughly, seek immediate medical attention, and call 311 to report the incident.
Pet owners are also urged to ensure their animals’ rabies vaccinations are current. Ontario law requires dog, cat, and ferret owners to vaccinate all animals over three months of age against rabies.
This case follows a tragic reminder of the dangers of bat rabies. In October 2024, an 11-year-old child from the Brantford area died from rabies after waking up with a bat on his nose and mouth. It was the first domestically acquired human rabies case in Ontario since 1967. Since 1967, all human rabies cases in Canada have come from exposure to bats or from exposures while in another country.
Halton Region Public Health serves more than 650,000 residents in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. For more information, visit Halton Region Public Health.
