- The Mexican government ruled out a health alert when it came to light the existence of four compatible clinical cases.

Bats are a source of rabies contagion. / WILSONB

A minor dies of rabies after a possible bite from a bat in Mexico

One of the four cases of possible rabies from a bat bite in Mexico, a child under the age of seven, died last Wednesday afternoon, the country's health authorities announced.

"The Oaxaca Health Services (SSO) report that the unfortunate death of a seven-year-old male patient, originally from the town of Palo de Lima, municipality of San Lorenzo Texmelucan, occurred," they said in a statement.

The Mexican minor, who was admitted to the "Doctor Aurelio Valdivieso" General Hospital, in the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca, was admitted due to health complications along with two other minors.

This, "after suffering a bite from a wild animal in days gone by," detailed the Oaxacan authorities.

"Unfortunately, and despite the efforts of health specialists, the minor lost his life at 5:06 p.m. that day," they added.

For its part, the Mexican government ruled out a health alert, after the existence of four clinical cases compatible with rabies disease emerged: three minors bitten by "one or more bats" two, seven, and eight years old, and a woman young woman bitten by a semi-domestic cat in southern and northern Mexico.

The Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo López-Gatell, confirmed that there were three infected minors aged eight, seven and two years old, and a young woman.

Meanwhile, the Oaxaca Ministry of Health also explained that, in the last 24 hours, no change has been reported regarding the state of health of the under-eight-year-old, who is under sedoanalgesia and mechanical ventilation.

"The minor will continue with comfort measures and under medical treatment, however, the health prognosis remains serious," the authorities added.

The health agency in southwestern Mexico pointed out that the laboratory results of the patients are still awaited by the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE) to confirm possible rabies.

In addition, López-Gatell said that the symptoms were clinically compatible with rabies and ventured that minors have been treated with a prophylactic treatment for rabies, using the vaccine and an antibody to neutralize the virus.