Mahnomen Public Schools is notifying families of students who attended STEAM programming on June 18 after a bat was found outdoors near student activities.
As a precaution, we consulted with the Minnesota Department of Health. While we are aware of only two students who had direct contact with the bat, MDH recommended notifying all families whose children attended that day, since it is not possible to completely rule out additional contact.
At this time, there are no known illnesses or injuries related to the incident. The district has followed guidance from health officials, notified affected families, and is taking additional steps to evaluate the area out of an abundance of caution.
Families who receive a letter and have questions are encouraged to contact the district office.
The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.
For a printable letter, please click here https://aptg.co/M200hs
PROTECTING, MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL MINNESOTANS
June 24, 2026
Mahnomen Elementary School
Dear Parent/Guardian,
On Thursday, June 18th, a bat was found outside Mahnomen Elementary school. While the bat was moved to a remote area once teachers were notified of its presence, it is possible that some students may have come into contact with it.
Because bats can carry rabies, please review the following guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
What You Need to Do
• If your child DID NOT touch the bat: No action is needed. People who only saw the bat but had no physical contact are not at risk and do not need treatment.
• If your child DID or MAY HAVE touched the bat: Your child needs to be evaluated for Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
Who to Call for Next Steps
If your child had direct physical contact with the bat, please seek a rabies risk assessment right away: • Monday – Friday (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.): Call the MDH rabies team directly at 651-201-5414. • After Hours or Weekends: Call your child’s healthcare provider or go to an urgent
care/emergency room to begin treatment. Your provider can reach the MDH on-call service at the same number (651-201-5414) if they have questions.
The standard rabies PEP treatment is highly effective and consists of:
• A series of four doses of rabies vaccine given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14.
• Human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) given on day 0. (Day 0 is the first day of treatment, not the day of exposure.)
The safety of your students is our top priority.
Sincerely,
Stacy Holzbauer DVM, MPH State Public Health Veterinarian Minnesota Department of Health 625 Robert St. North St. Paul, MN 55155-2538 |
Maria Bye, MPH Senior Epidemiologist Minnesota Department of Health 625 Robert St. North St. Paul, MN 55155-2538 |
