‘Small number’ of Alberta students being treated for rabies exposure after bat encounter

Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) flying on wooden ceiling of house in darkness.

A ‘small number’ of students are being treated for rabies exposure after an encounter with a bat on a school bus east of Calgary earlier this month.

Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services spokesperson Tom McMillan confirmed health officials were notified on May 13 of an incident involving a bat on a school bus transporting students who attended a school in the Golden Hills School Division in Drumheller.

McMillan said the bus driver and all students who may have been exposed were assessed and a “small number” were treated for rabies exposure.

He said there are no reports of serious illness or adverse reactions from the encounter.

McMillan did not confirm the number of students requiring care.

Data collected by the province shows between 1927 and 2025 there have been 1,019 cases of rabies in Alberta. Skunks have the highest number of recorded cases at 373, with bats following with 349 cases.