Woman ER Trip After Bat Encounter in Toilet

MONTREAL – A TikToker’s startling finding of a dead bat in her toilet led to an emergency room visit and a rabies vaccination.Alison Doyle, from Canada, found the small, black creature floating in her toilet bowl.

A dead bat found in a toilet prompted a woman to seek medical attention, fearing rabies.

• A woman discovered a dead bat in her toilet.
• She filmed the encounter and shared it on tiktok, sparking concerns about rabies.
• She subsequently received a rabies vaccination as a precaution.
• The incident has brought attention to autism awareness.

The viral video, viewed over 35 million times, captured the attention of nearly 1,600 commenters, many of whom urged Doyle to seek immediate medical attention for a potential rabies infection. “The probability that you will die when you have infected yourself wiht rabies and do not use any help is extremely high,” Doyle recounted the ambulance service’s stark warning.

Bat found in toilet sparks health scare

After calling the ambulance service, Doyle was strongly advised to go to the emergency room. Upon arrival, she explained her situation, noting that about 100 people in the TikTok comments had advised her to get a rabies vaccination.

Doyle, who has autism and experiences challenges with sensory input, expressed her desire to leave if the vaccination wasn’t deemed necessary. However, the admitting staff insisted she proceed.

Rabies vaccination administered

Medical staff administered a rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Doyle reported receiving five injections on the first day, followed by another shot a few days later. Despite feeling unwell after the vaccinations, she found solace in the hospital staff’s kindness. She was given a private room where she could rest in darkness for five hours,describing the care as extraordinary.

What is rabies? Rabies is a viral disease usually transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as dogs, cats, bats, or foxes. The virus spreads through saliva. Without timely treatment, rabies is typically fatal once symptoms appear. Vaccination before or immediately after exposure can prevent the disease.

Raising awareness for autism

Doyle intends to leverage the attention from this unusual incident to raise awareness about autism. “A little visibility is better than no visibility, but I think that there must be a lot more representation within the autism community,” she stated. Doyle emphasized that autism is a spectrum,with individual experiences varying greatly.

For Doyle, loud noises and bright lights can be overwhelming and induce stress.

Understanding rabies risk

Touching a dead bat is generally considered safe unless saliva contacts open wounds or there are injuries on the hands. Though, a risk of infection cannot be entirely ruled out, as saliva could theoretically transmit via mucous membranes, even without visible injury. Medical advice is strongly recommended in such scenarios.

In September 2023, the Austrian agency for Health and Food safety confirmed the presence of the European bat lyssavirus in a bat in Austria. The animal had died earlier at a reception center. However, the agency noted that transmission of bat rabies to other species or humans is extremely rare and has not been definitively identified in Austria.

Reader question:-Rabies is a serious concern with bat encounters. If you find a bat, alive or dead, avoid handling it and contact your local animal control or health department for guidance.