Brazilian teenager becomes the fifth person in the world to be cured of the deadly disease

A teenager has become only the fifth person in the world to be cured of rabies, according to Brazilian health officials.

Mateus dos Santos da Silva, 14, was one of three children from the same family who contracted the disease in November last year.

The virus killed his two siblings – Lucas, 17, and Miria, 10, within weeks of each other after it took hold.

Mateus was bitten several times by vampire bats in Rio Unini, a rural community situated on the Rio Negro, a major river flowing through the Amazon jungle.

Now the youngster has made a remarkable recovery after pioneering treatment that saw him placed in an induced coma.

This is said to protect the brain and help patients survive long enough for their immune system to produce antibodies to fight off the virus.

He is the second person in Brazil to be cured of rabies, after Recife-based Marciano Menezes was saved in 2009.

The boy's father, Levi Castro da Silva, 47, said: 'Mateus's survival is nothing short of a miracle. He is still recovering and very weak and he is unable to move certain parts of his body.

'The recovery process is full of risks, but we are full of hope as we know the worst is over. We are looking forward to having him home soon, to see him walking, talking and laughing again.'

Rabies is a rare but very serious infection of the brain and nerves and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

The virus infects the central nervous system, causing confusion or aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, frothing at the mouth and paralysis and ultimately death. The illness can take up to nine months to manifest.

Mateus was admitted to the Tropical Medical Foundation (FMT) in Manaus suffering from fever and tingling in the hands on the same day his sister died.

But the resilient youth survived after being treated with the Milwaukee protocol. The experimental procedure, created by American doctor Rodney Willoughby, involves administering antiviral drugs while putting the patient into a chemically induced coma to protect the brain from damage. 

Throughout the treatment, medical teams were in contact with Dr Willoughby who monitored and contributed his expertise to the case.

Mateus spent 40 days in intensive care (ICU) in an induced coma supported by mechanical ventilation.

According to Dr Antonio Magela, infectious disease specialist at FMT who coordinated the treatment, the young man's chances were boosted by an early diagnosis and his immediate hospitalisation.

Sadly, this was not the case for his siblings, who were already in the full throes of the illness.

During the a press conference he said: 'Mateus arrived just hours after his sister died suffering from tingling and numbness in the hands but he didn't have any neurological symptoms.

'He was immediately admitted and that same night, he had a seizure and had to be sedated and sent to ICU.

'He was treated from the start with the Milwaukee protocol, due to the history of bat attacks.'

After more than a month of life-saving treatment, the patient was discharged this month from ICU and is already out of bed and in a chair.

He is expected to remain in hospital for at least four months to combat complications and to aid his rehabilitation.

He is being monitored by paediatricians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, neurologist and other professionals.

Dr Magela said: 'It is possible to celebrate his recovery, but we have to be cautious since the disease can leave complications.

'Mateus is already reacting to the presence of his family and rejecting food he doesn't like. This is all good news.

'Also, the fact that he is swallowing spontaneously and breathing independently makes us think that the key areas of his nervous system have been preserved or are recovering.

'The first patient to be cured of rabies in Brazil was hospitalised for nine months and still has outpatient follow-ups.

'We want to ensure this teenager has the best possible recovery. Therefore, he will continue to be accompanied by a multidisciplinary team.'

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