A bat unexpectedly appeared on a school bus ride in Drumheller, leading to at least three students being treated for potential rabies exposure. The incident occurred last week, as reported by two parents to CBC News. According to an email from the Golden Hills School Division’s transportation department, the bat emerged from a hiding spot on the moving bus and flew around. The school division did not provide a comment before the news publication.
To address the situation, Alberta Health Services will contact the families of students who were present on the bus during the bat incident. Those not on the bus at the time will not be contacted. Health officials, including spokesperson Tom McMillan, responded promptly upon receiving the report on May 13. The bus driver and exposed students were assessed, and some received treatment. Currently, there are no reports of severe illness or adverse reactions among the affected students.
While the exact number of students undergoing rabies exposure treatment is undisclosed, the transportation department informed parents that the bat eventually flew out of an open window. Despite rabies not being detected initially, immediate medical attention is crucial following bat contact. Dr. Alan Jackson, a rabies researcher at the University of Calgary, emphasized the importance of taking bat exposure seriously and receiving rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, a treatment involving multiple doses of the rabies vaccine over two weeks.
Between 2016 and 2025, over 4,000 individuals in Alberta have received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Notably, Alberta has seen two fatal human rabies cases since 1924, both caused by bat exposure. Dr. Jackson highlighted the high fatality rate of rabies in humans once symptoms appear, emphasizing the necessity of seeking medical assistance for potential exposures.
The Alberta government reported 1,019 animal rabies cases in the province from 1927 to 2025, with bats and skunks comprising the majority. It is essential to understand the risks associated with rabies and take necessary precautions when encountering wildlife to prevent potential exposure.
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