Rabid bat found at Sask. daycare; school division apologizes for delay in telling parents

Children at a daycare in Spiritwood have been offered rabies treatment after a rapid bat found inside the centre tested positive for the virus.

The school division apologized for its delayed communication after finding out about the bat. 

The bat was captured on June 4 at the Love & Laughter Early Learning Centre, a daycare attached to Hartley Clark Elementary School in Spiritwood, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

Spiritwood is located about 147 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

A conservation officer caught it and sent it for testing, which confirmed that it was positive for rabies.

All children and anyone who may have had contact with the bat have been offered rabies immunoglobulin for immediate protection, along with a rabies vaccination for longer-term protection, according to the SHA.

The health authority encourages anyone who encounters a bat inside a dwelling to call 811.

Living Sky School Division also said a professional was brought in to inspect the building and reported it clear of any other animals. 

However, parents weren’t told about the rabid bat until June 9, and the school division is apologizing for the delay.

“As is our normal protocol with any health-related situations, our team immediately reached out to public health for next steps. The letter from the Medical Health Officer is still awaiting approval from Saskatchewan Health Authority,” Brenda Vickers, the division’s director of education, said in a statement sent to families.

“We sincerely believed that we would quickly receive the letter from health to accompany our communication to families. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

“We understand the delay in communicating has caused anxiety. For this, we sincerely apologize.”

The SHA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the delay of the letter.