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Woman wakes up to bat trying to crawl into her mouth: 'I was screaming repeatedly'
WCVB • • health
Key Points:
- Dr. Krista Edelman, a Richmond gastroenterologist, woke up to a bat attempting to enter her mouth and shared her experience to raise awareness about potential rabies exposure.
- She trapped the bat for rabies testing instead of killing it, following advice she researched and received from an infectious disease doctor.
- Medical experts emphasized the importance of assuming potential rabies exposure if a bat is found in a bedroom, as bat bites can be small and go unnoticed, and rabies is nearly always fatal without treatment.
- Virginia health officials noted an increase in bat submissions for rabies testing this year, but the rate of positive rabies cases in bats has not risen, advising prompt contact with local health authorities for guidance.
- Edelman’s bat tested negative for rabies, and she shared her story to help others understand the proper steps to take in similar situations.
