Richmond doctor wakes up to bat in her mouth, warns others on wildlife safety

Key Points:

• Dr. Krista Edelman, a Richmond gastroenterologist, woke up with a bat in her mouth on August 20, prompting concerns about rabies exposure due to the bat's potential saliva contact with mucous membranes.
• After safely capturing the bat with her husband's help, Edelman sought medical advice and began rabies vaccination treatment, which was later discontinued when tests confirmed the bat was rabies-negative.
• Medical experts emphasized that bat bites can be imperceptible and that any direct contact with bats, especially in sleeping areas, warrants caution and potential rabies treatment, as rabies is fatal once symptoms develop.
• Virginia health officials reported a higher number of bat encounters this year but no increase in rabies-positive bats, attributing the rise to greater public awareness rather than a true increase in cases.
• The Virginia Department of Health advises against handling bats directly, recommending safe capture and testing by animal control or health departments, and highlights the importance of licensed wildlife rehabilitators for bat colony management.