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Doctor shares PSA after waking up to a bat trying to get into her mouth
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- Dr. Krista Edelman woke up to find a bat trying to burrow into her mouth, a rare and frightening encounter that led her to seek immediate medical attention.
- Although the bat tested negative for rabies, Edelman began the rabies vaccine series and immunoglobulin treatment due to direct contact and lack of prior vaccination.
- Bats often enter homes during summer months, roosting in attics and chimneys, and while most bats are healthy, those infected with rabies are responsible for the majority of rabies deaths in the US.
- Bat bites can be small and unnoticed, so experts advise treating any bat encounter in sleeping areas or involving vulnerable individuals as a potential exposure and seeking medical advice promptly.
- To safely handle bats found indoors, avoid bare-hand contact, capture them using gloves and a container, and contact local health authorities for testing and guidance on necessary medical treatment.
