Boy, 11, dies of rabies 19 days after waking with bat lying on his mouth

Bats usually spread rabies through bites or scratches (Picture: Getty Images)

An 11-year-old boy died from rabies less than three weeks after he woke up with a bat lying over his nose and mouth.

The child contracted the lethal virus despite not having any apparent bite or scratch marks from the interaction, a report has shown.

Nineteen days after the incident, the boy started presenting with symptoms consistent with the disease, including vomiting, facial ‘pins and needles’, and numbness.

He visited the emergency department where he was given supportive care, as there is no cure once the symptoms of the virus develop.

The parents of the boy – who has not been named – agreed to share their son’s story in a bid to raise awareness of the disease.