Virginia doctor’s viral bat encounter highlights rabies safety steps
A Richmond gastroenterologist woke to a bat trying to enter her mouth, prompting urgent medical care and a public-health warning.
While sleeping in her nearly century-old Richmond residence, Dr. Krista Edelman felt something brush her face and realized a bat was attempting to enter her mouth. She quickly researched the proper response, learning that the bat should be captured for rabies testing rather than killed. A friend who is an infectious-disease physician urged her to obtain post-exposure prophylaxis promptly, and she presented herself at St. Mary's Hospital, where ER assistant medical director Dr. Adam Landsee treated her and warned that bat bites can be hard to detect.
Julia Murphy, the Virginia Department of Health’s public-health veterinarian, noted a rise in bat submissions for testing and recommended contacting local health departments for guidance, which can provide results within about 48 hours. The bat later tested negative for rabies, and Dr. Edelman shared her story on Instagram to educate others about the correct protocol after such encounters.
Why it matters
The incident shows how quickly a seemingly minor wildlife encounter can become a serious health risk and underscores the need for proper rabies response.
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