Bats, order Chiroptera, are winged mammals that fly using a patagial membrane over elongated fingers. They’re vital for ecosystems through pollination and insect control.
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.
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.