Virginia doctor warns of rabies risk after waking to bat in mouth

A Richmond gastroenterologist discovered a bat in her mouth shortly after waking on Aug. 20 and used the incident to highlight the importance of rabies precautions. Dr. Krista Edelman said she initially thought she was dreaming about a mouse before realizing a small, hairy animal was trying to enter her mouth. She removed the bat, captured it and later had it tested, which showed it was negative for rabies. Despite the negative result, she and her husband began preventive rabies treatment.

"I think I know the basics of things," Edelman told a local TV station, adding that the experience humbled her because she was unsure of the proper steps to take.

Health officials note that bat bites can be tiny and may leave no visible marks, making it difficult to determine exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says bat contact is the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the United States. Edelman urged anyone who may have been exposed to a bat, especially while sleeping, to seek medical evaluation promptly.

"If you are exposed or if you're sleeping and there's a bat around, you don't know if it could have bit you or had contact. You need to be proactive," she said in an Instagram video that has drawn significant public attention.

The doctor’s warning follows a recent fatal rabies case in Canada involving a teenager who awoke with a bat near his face and later developed the disease despite no obvious bite. Authorities continue to advise that any potential bat contact be reported to health professionals for assessment and possible treatment.