Bats: the winged mammals that fly
An 11-year-old in northern Ontario has died from rabies after a bat came to rest on his face in 2024. Medical teams diagnosed rabies after symptoms emerged 19 days later. The Canadian Medical Association Journal notes early post-exposure treatment is crucial and that bat bites can leave no visible marks.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has intensified, with cases rising and deaths increasing. Health workers are striking over unpaid salaries, while international partners warn the official figures may undercount the true toll. Trials for treatments have begun, and vaccination efforts remain limited by the absence of a vaccine for this strain.
Biologists report white-nose syndrome has reached Canada’s Northwest Territories, raising urgent questions about bat populations and North America’s winter hibernacula. The Pd fungus threatens thousands of hibernating bats, with experts forecasting impacts across the region while researchers race to understand its spread.
New observational data suggests Shingrix vaccination in older adults is associated with lower cardiovascular risk and reduced dementia incidence over multi-year follow-ups. Studies compare Shingrix to Zostavax and find reductions in heart disease, stroke, and dementia, with stronger signals in men for heart outcomes.
Recent reports from multiple sources show increases in rabies exposures linked to wildlife and animal products. The CDC has issued advisories, and health officials warn residents to avoid contact with wildlife, seek prompt treatment after exposure, and monitor outbreaks as surveillance continues nationwide.