{"id":7546,"date":"2026-08-27T16:39:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T16:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7546"},"modified":"2026-08-27T16:39:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T16:39:36","slug":"doctor-shares-psa-after-waking-up-to-a-bat-trying-to-burrow-into-her-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7546","title":{"rendered":"Doctor shares PSA after waking up to a bat trying to ‘burrow’ into her mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Krista Edelman was having a strange dream about a small mouse trying to get into her mouth.<\/p>\n

Read more Iconic \u2018Transformers\u2019 voice actor Peter Cullen dead at 85<\/a><\/p>\n

When she woke up, she was met with the horrifying realization that there was, in fact, a furry animal \u201cburrowing\u201d between her lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reach up to my mouth \u2026 and then I touch something that is kind of slimy and a little hairy and cool,\u201d she said in an Instagram post, describing a half-awake state when she thought she was still dreaming. <\/p>\n

She realized \u201cimmediately\u201d it was a bat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bat was legitimately trying to burrow between my lips into my mouth, trying to get past my teeth,\u201d said Edelman, a gastroenterologist in Richmond, Virginia. \u201cI grabbed this bat and I threw it across the room and I screamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her husband, grabbed a T-ball bat \u2014 but from her training, she says she knew that wasn\u2019t the right move. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew we were supposed to try to catch this bat so it can actually be tested and see if there are rabies in its brain,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

There are more than 40 bat species widespread across the US, and healthy bats avoid humans if they can help it.<\/p>\n

But summertime is when homeowners frequently find bats in their home. The mammals often roost in the attic, and if it gets too hot, they\u2019ll leave to find a cooler spot.<\/p>\n

Bats can infect humans with a number of dangerous diseases. Famously, COVID-19 originated from the mammal.<\/p>\n

Read more Chilling 911 audio released after NJ grandpa allegedly crashed boat drunk, killing grandkids<\/a><\/p>\n

Rabies is one of the primary diseases that can be passed from bats to humans. A vast majority (97%) of bats are healthy and good for the environment, but infected bats are responsible for 7 of 10 rabies deaths in the US.<\/p>\n

Untreated, rabies travels slowly through the body over months without symptoms, then cause serious brain and nervous system damage, leading to coma and death.<\/p>\n

Luckily, the rabies vaccine is very effective and can be given to people shortly after they\u2019ve been exposed. It helps the body kills the virus before it reaches the brain.<\/p>\n

In Edelman\u2019s case, the bat tested negative for rabies \u2014 but she still took action to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I had direct contact and hadn\u2019t previously been vaccinated against rabies, I went to the ER and started the rabies vaccine series and received immunoglobulin,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, Edelman wanted to share a PSA: \u201cIf you live in an older home, check those attics and chimneys! And if you wake up with a bat in the room and aren\u2019t sure whether you had contact with it, don\u2019t assume you\u2019re fine. It\u2019s worth getting medical advice right away!\u201d<\/p>\n

Why you may not know if a bat touched you<\/h2>\n

Not everyone who encounters a bat will even know a bat touched them. Bat bites, the primary way rabies is spread, can be very small and not easily seen.<\/p>\n

Experts recommend proceeding as if there was a known bat bite if a bat was found where people were asleep, or there were children or someone else might not be able to understand or report a bat encounter.<\/p>\n

Read more Ratko Mladic, ruthless ex-Bosnian Serb war criminal who oversaw atrocities, dies in prison at 84<\/a><\/p>\n

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View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A post shared by Krista Edelman, MD (@kristaedelmanmd)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Here\u2019s what to do if you suspect a bat touched someone in your house:<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
    \n
  1. Never touch the bat with bare hands\u00a0\u2014 that\u2019s one way rabies can spread.<\/li>\n
  2. Gently capture the bat when it lands in a large box or bucket, while wearing thick leather gloves. Puncture air holes, slide cardboard or another rigid flat surface under the opening, flip it upside down and tape it shut (just like capturing a bug).<\/li>\n
  3. Call your state health department. They\u2019ll have the bat tested for rabies and will determine if you need medical attention.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to keep bats out of your home:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Bats don\u2019t make holes \u2014 they use existing ones to get in. They can fit into tiny openings, as small as 1\/4 inch wide. Check for any openings.<\/li>\n
    2. Call animal control or a local wildlife conservation to help bat proof your home.<\/li>\n
    3. Use caulk, screens, and steel wool to fill holes and seal doors, especially around the attic.<\/li>\n
    4. Ensure all windows and doors are closed tightly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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