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Woman wakes up to bat trying to crawl into her mouth: 'I was screaming repeatedly'
WYFF • • health
Key Points:
- Dr. Krista Edelman, a gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia, woke up to a bat attempting to enter her mouth and quickly trapped it for rabies testing.
- She sought medical advice and was advised to assume potential rabies exposure, as bat bites can be very small and rabies is almost always fatal without treatment.
- The bat tested negative for rabies, but health officials emphasize the importance of capturing bats and contacting local authorities promptly for guidance in possible exposure cases.
- Rabies incubation can last weeks to months, making early medical consultation critical, especially when waking up with a bat in the room.
- Bats are common in the U.S., with over 40 species present, and increased submissions for rabies testing have been noted this year, though positive cases have not risen.
