MELBOURNE, Fla. — Longleaf Elementary School in Melbourne is dealing with a rat infestation and there are now concerns from one family after their third grade daughter got sick in November.
The girl spent eight days in Nemours Children's Hospital.
Her father, who asked that the family not be identified, said over the phone he believes rats likely made her sick.
Related Story: Officials fight 'moderate' rat infestation at Melbourne elementary school
[ Read: Jan. 18 Florida Health Department report for Longleaf Elementary School ]
The family’s attorney said the child was hooked up to a breathing machine, and was fighting for her life—her lungs were functioning at 10 percent of their capacity.
In a statement, the attorney wrote: "Doctors expressed concern as to whether he/she had been exposed to rodents."
But at the time, the family wasn't aware of rats in the school.
State Health Department records show that last week, there was a rat nest found in pipes leading into a building.
Rats had been in a handful of classrooms. Inspectors noted it appeared they had been gnawing on corn left in an art room closet.
In November, one school district report showed there was evidence of rats in the kitchen, and the district confirmed it was first aware of a possible rat problem starting in July.
The school sent notice to parents last week, but some parents still didn't know about the problem until Channel 9’s story aired Tuesday.
The family attorney said they believe school officials even knew the child was sick in November, but never mentioned the rats.
He wrote that even though the parents like the school, they, “are shocked, extremely hurt and angered that the rat infestation was not brought to their attention before their child became ill, or while their child was suffering at the hospital."
The school district said it has met with the family to discuss their concerns and those "concerns will be addressed accordingly."
It also said there has been no further rat activity since Monday.
If it stays that way through the weekend, officials plan a thorough cleaning of the school Monday, and will ask health officials to reinspect Tuesday.