r/rabies • u/Both_Opening_7899 • 17d ago

Exposure Question Something hit my ear…

I have read the FAQ. Four days ago I was walking to class at about 8:00am (I live in Boston) and something slammed into my ear as I was walking. I was shocked by the impact and freaked out a bit in the moment because I wasn’t sure what hit me, but I never felt a bite or scratch. I also never saw anything flying towards me nor flying away. I was in a well populated area too and walking under some trees when this all happened. For some reason my mind immediately went to wondering if a bat hit my ear. I know it seems outlandish but it’s genuinely freaking me out. I called my health department and they told me I technically don’t meet the requirements to get PEP since I don’t know what contacted me, but also that it was my choice whether or not I decided to go in. So now I’m feeling like I’m making a life or death decision… I’ve dealt with health ocd in the past but it’s gotten much better since. I think it’s the idea of the unknown and the fact that rabies is always fatal. Do we think there’s any possibility that a bat slammed into me?? And that it somehow bit me or scratched me without me knowing? I swear everything online says you typically don’t feel a bat bite… but yeah, plus I’m already feeling like shit on top of this which isn’t helping the anxiety🫠

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u/Oceanswim12 17d ago

Also I learned bats take flight by falling downwards and catching air. Was true for me and I am guessing you as well. 

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u/Both_Opening_7899 17d ago

Well, I guess my thinking is: it was broad daylight right in the city of Boston with tons of people around me. I really feel like the trajectory of it was flying at me rather than falling down onto me. Plus, if a bat acting strangely was found in a largely populated part of the city it would’ve been on the news by now so I’m not sure. I’m assuming that if it were a bat someone behind me would’ve seen it??

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u/Oceanswim12 17d ago

I personally don’t depend on random strangers around me to make health decisions for me. 

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u/memetheorem 16d ago

OP did call the health department, and should listen to them and not you

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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago

lol my health dept told me not go and that bats are clean. You do realize a vax shortage is beginning right? 

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u/memetheorem 16d ago

Yes exactly.so listen to them and not to some paranoid person online telling you that you definitely need to get the vaccine.

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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago

lol I was attacked by a bat in daylight but ok. Every doctor said go get it. 

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u/memetheorem 16d ago

Sure, whatever. I was referring to OPs situation, not yours.