Virginia doctor shares bat encounter and rabies guidance after viral video

A gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia, posted a video after waking to a bat that attempted to enter her mouth while she slept in her historic home. The doctor, Dr. Krista Edelman, described the incident on Instagram, where the clip has been shared tens of thousands of times.

She said she initially thought the animal was a mouse before realizing it was a bat, prompting her to call an infectious-disease colleague for advice. The colleague recommended immediate medical evaluation because the risk of rabies transmission increases when exposure occurs near the head.

Edelman was examined in the emergency department of St. Mary’s Hospital, where Dr. Adam Landsee, assistant medical director of the ER, advised that any bat found in a residence should be treated as a potential rabies exposure. He noted that bat bites can be difficult to detect due to the animal’s small teeth and that rabies is almost always fatal without treatment.

Virginia’s public health veterinarian, Dr. Julia Murphy, reported a rise in bat submissions for rabies testing this year, though the proportion of positive results has not increased. She recommends trapping the bat, if possible, and contacting local health or animal-control authorities promptly; test results are typically available within 48 hours, and a vaccine is unnecessary if the bat tests negative.

Testing later confirmed the bat was rabies-negative. Dr. Edelman said she shared her experience to inform others about the proper steps to take when encountering bats indoors.