Woman Gets Slammed With a $10K Bill After a Bat Decides Her Mouth Is a Cave
“Guess I know what bats taste like now. Kinda earthy, weirdly sweet?” she joked later. But in the moment? Pure panic. What was supposed to be a chill vacation turned into a horror story when a bat—yep, a freaking bat—flew straight into her mouth. And the kicker? A $10,000 medical bill that hit harder than the bat itself. Wild, right? But here’s the thing: this isn’t just some crazy story to tell at parties. It’s a wake-up call about rabies, travel insurance loopholes, and why you should maybe stop yawning outside at dusk.
So… How Does a Bat End Up in Someone’s Mouth?
Vacation Mode: Off
Picture this: tropical sunset, cold drink in hand, laughing with friends. Then—bam. Something flutters past your lips. At first, she thought it was a giant bug. Nope. A full-on bat. Cue the spitting, gagging, and instant regret for ever going outside.
The Rabies Freakout
After the gross-out factor wore off, reality set in. Bats = rabies. And rabies? Almost always deadly if you ignore it. Even though she didn’t feel a bite, doctors later told her the bat’s saliva alone could’ve been enough. Talk about a mood killer.
The Bill That Hurt Worse Than the Shots
Emergency Room Chaos
She bolted to the nearest clinic, where they didn’t even bother with small talk. Straight to rabies shots—four rounds of them over two weeks. The first one’s the worst: they jab the immune globulin right into the wound site. Which, in her case, meant her gums. Yeah. No thank you.
Here’s Where It Gets Ugly
Total damage? $10K. Breakdown:
- Rabies immune globulin: $4,500 (basically liquid gold)
- Vaccine series: $3,200 (because why not?)
- Emergency room “facility fee”: $2,300 (for the privilege of sitting in a plastic chair)
Her travel insurance covered… some of it. Turns out, “bat to the face” isn’t always in the fine print. Lesson learned.
Why Rabies Isn’t Something You Mess With
Quick Stats That’ll Terrify You
Rabies kills around 60,000 people a year globally. Once symptoms show up? Game over. And bats are sneaky—their bites can be tiny, or in this case, maybe just some slobber in your mouth. Either way, you’re not waiting around to find out.
The Treatment Nobody Signs Up For
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) sounds clinical. In reality? It’s a brutal combo of shots, side effects (fever, exhaustion, the works), and emotional whiplash. She spent months jumping at shadows—literally.
What This Mess Teaches Us
Wildlife: Look, Don’t Taste
Bats crashing into humans? Rare, but it happens. How to not be “that person”:
- Don’t pet the wildlife. Even if it’s cute.
- If a bat’s nearby, freeze. Flailing = higher chance of collision.
- Any contact? Assume it’s rabies until proven otherwise. Better paranoid than dead.
Travel Insurance: Read the Damn Fine Print
Not all policies are equal. Before jetting off:
- Ask: “Does this cover ‘bat attacked me’ scenarios?” (Seriously.)
- Check if emergency evacuations are included—because sometimes local clinics won’t cut it.
- Know how to file a claim abroad. Google Translate won’t save you here.
A 10-minute call could save you $10K. Just saying.
Her Takeaway: “Laugh So You Don’t Cry”
Even now, she cracks jokes about it. “Great icebreaker, terrible life choice,” she says. But her real advice? Watch your back (and your mouth), get solid insurance, and maybe invest in a mosquito net for your face.
Bottom Line
A bat, a mouth, and a bill that’ll make your eyes water. This isn’t just bad luck—it’s a reminder that nature doesn’t care about your vacation vibes. So pack smart, stay sharp, and for the love of all things holy, keep your mouth closed outside.
Source: NY Post – US News
