A surprising incident occurred during a school bus ride in Drumheller when a bat was discovered onboard, leading to at least three students receiving treatment for potential rabies exposure. According to parents, the bat emerged from hiding and flew around while the bus was in motion, as reported by the Golden Hills School Division’s transportation department in an email forwarded to CBC News. Alberta Health Services will contact families of students present during the bat incident, while those not on the bus at the time will not be contacted.
Following the report on May 13, Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services quickly responded to the situation. The bus driver and exposed students were evaluated, with a few receiving treatment. As of now, there have been no reports of severe illness or adverse reactions among the affected students.
Although rabies has not been detected, ongoing treatment is advised following bat contact. University of Calgary neuroscientist and rabies researcher, Alan Jackson, emphasized the importance of taking bat exposure seriously and recommended rabies post-exposure prophylaxis as a standard response. Notably, over 4,000 individuals in Alberta received this treatment between 2016 and 2025.
Historically, Alberta has experienced two fatal human rabies cases in 1985 and 2007, with a total of 28 fatal cases across Canada linked to bat exposure or exposure outside the country. The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms manifest in humans, underscoring the necessity of seeking medical assistance for potential rabies exposures. The Alberta government recorded 1,019 animal rabies cases in the province from 1927 to 2025, predominantly involving bats and skunks.
The transportation department informed parents that the bat eventually flew out of an open window. Continuous monitoring and treatment are recommended even if initial rabies detection is negative, emphasizing the seriousness of bat exposure incidents.