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2026-08-27 15:49 UTC → 2026-09-01 01:37 UTC ·
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A medical professional Dr. Krista Edelman, a gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia, issued a public health warning following after a personal encounter with a bat inside her home. After experiencing Edelman reported waking up to find a bat attempting to enter her mouth, a sensation she initially mistook for a dream, dream involving a small rodent. Upon feeling the doctor animal’s coarse hair, she realized the danger and sought treatment medical guidance from an infectious disease specialist at St. Mary’s Hospital. Following medical protocols, Edelman and her husband captured the bat in a bucket to allow for rabies testing rather than killing the animal. While testing later confirmed the bat was negative for rabies, Edelman received preventative vaccinations as a precaution. Medical experts, including Dr. Adam Landsee, emphasized Dr. Julia Murphy, and other officials from the Virginia Department of Health, have used the incident to emphasize the high risks of rabies. They advise that any contact with a bat in a residence should be treated as a potential rabies exposure. They noted exposure, noting that bites or scratches can be difficult to detect and that the virus can cause fatal damage to the nervous system if not treated immediately. Experts urge individuals to assume the worst-case scenario and seek prompt medical guidance if a bat is discovered in a living space.