Jenn Nichols, junior, was attacked by a bat late Thursday night, resulting in a trip to Mount Carmel Hospital. Nichols, an education intervention specialist major, was leaving Blackmore Library when the incident occurred. She heard a loud noise that she thinks triggered the the attack.
“After leaving work at midnight, I was walking past Kerns Chapel when I heard a loud noise, almost like the sound of a car backfiring,” said Nichols. “It must have a startled a group of bats, and one flew too low and got tangled up in my hair. Once I was finally able to pull it out, a chunk of my hair was pulled out with it.”
In its struggle to get free, the bat left several scratches and four or five puncture wounds on Nichols’s head. She said she immediately thought of the possibility of rabies, having been bitten by a wild animal.
“I know you can bring in an animal to get it tested for rabies, but it slipped out of my hand [when] I got it out. But the whole time all I kept thinking was ‘Oh my gosh! Rabies, rabies, rabies!’” Nichols said.
Nichols went to Mount Carmel Hospital to receive the proper treatment as a precaution.
“They gave me the Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) shot right to the bite wounds,” said Nichols. “I received five of the HRIG shots in [the] head and then the Rabies Vaccine and the Tetanus shot and then additional HRIG shots. I received eleven shots total.”
As per rabies protocol, Nichols will have to return to Mount Carmel Hospital four more times for additional rabies vaccinations. If she does not return to the hospital, she will have to restart the process all over again to ensure her health.
The medical staff at Mount Carmel Hospital was just as surprised at what happened as Nichols. Bat attacks are rather rare in the Columbus area.
“The nurses were alarmed about what had happened, as most of them hadn’t seen anything like that before,” said Nichols. “The doctor told me that my case was the first bat attack he’s seen in 25 years. Another nurse told me this was the first bat attack she’s seen in 10 years.”
Nichols has a great sense of humor about the whole situation.
“This summer I read a book called Rabid. [“Rabid: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus” by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy]. Considering it was a book about the history of rabies, the whole thing was pretty ironic. It would have been wonderful foreshadowing if my life was a novel.”
As far as any suggestions or advice to give to her fellow Capital students if another bat attack were to happen on campus, Nichols couldn’t help but laugh.
“I never thought this could happen, so I don’t know. I guess just announce yourself wherever you are going, maybe with a Mariachi band.”
Considering the absurdity of the event, a Mariachi band might just be what students need.
