Taylor Momsen, the lead vocalist of The Pretty Reckless and former Gossip Girl actress, had an unexpected and startling experience while performing in Spain last week. While on stage in Seville on May 29, Momsen had a memorable 'rock-and-roll' moment when a bat bit her during a live performance of the song, Witches Burn.
The Incident: A Bat on Stage
The 30-year-old singer was in the middle of her energetic performance when a bat landed on her leg. Initially, she continued performing, unaware of the bat's presence until the audience's screams and gestures alerted her. Sharing the bizarre incident on Instagram on May 31st, Momsen described the bat as ‘cute’ but revealed that it had bitten her, necessitating a series of rabies shots over the next two weeks.
She expressed her appreciation to the medical staff that attended to her, even saying they dubbed her ‘#batgirl’ after learning about the story on local news. Momsen shared a video of the bat clinging to her leg and footage from her subsequent visit to the hospital, adding a lighthearted note to her social media post.
View this post on Instagram
Reaction and Aftermath
Momsen wrote on her Instagram post that she recounted the moment she realized the bat was on her leg, "So… ROCK AND ROLL MOMENT…in Sevilla Wednesday during 'Witches Burn' of all songs… a BAT flew onto me and clung to my leg…in the moment I was performing and had no idea until the incredible crowd kept screaming and pointing." Despite the bite, she maintained a sense of humour around the incident, even jokingly referring to herself as a witch when asking for assistance on stage.
The following days had the singer reassuring her fans that she and the bat were okay and joked that the bat was her new ‘bestie.’ She, however, showed her concern for fear of getting the rabies shots, which proved the seriousness of the situation.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Completes His 45-Hour-Long Meditation; Benefits Of Meditation You Should Know
Knowing Rabies: A Fatal Virus
Rabies is a fatal virus whose transmission mode is through the saliva of an infected animal, which it mainly transmits through biting. In the United States, the main transmitting animals are bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. However, in most developing countries, stray dogs are the main transmitters.
Rabies is considered a fatal illness and is incurable when it sets in. Therefore, immediate medical attention is paramount. The first symptoms to exhibit in humans with rabies are mostly flu-like symptoms like:
- Fever
- Headache
- General feeling of weakness and discomfort
As the disease progresses, one may start exhibiting:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Agitation and anxiety
- Confusion and hyperactivity
- Difficulty swallowing
- Excessive salivation
- Hydrophobia (fear of water) due to difficulty in swallowing
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Partial paralysis
When to Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical attention if one is bitten by any animal or if in any suspicion of being exposed to rabies. Medical evaluation is paramount as it will enable the administration of rabies PEP, which prevents the disease. Even if there is no certainty of a bite, such as when one finds a bat in the same room as the sleeping person, one should seek medical attention to rule out any possibilities of exposure.
Causes and Transmission of Rabies
Rabies is mainly transmitted via the bite of an infected animal. In some exceptional cases, it can be contracted if the saliva of an infected animal touches an open wound or mucous membrane, which can include the mouth or the eyes. These animals can be either domestic pets, such as cats, dogs, and horses, or wild, such as bats, beavers, coyotes, foxes, monkeys, raccoons, skunks, and woodchucks.
In very few cases, rabies has been transmitted through organ transplants from an infected donor. Therefore, it is essential that all exposures are well-managed and treated to prevent the illness.
Bottomline
The unexpected intrusion of a bat onto Taylor Momsen's stage can be an eye-opener to what unplanned things can take place on a live stage and the quick action to be undertaken to ensure an animal bite. While Momsen used the incident to an endearment moment to her fans, the very dreadful disease that rabies can be, sets forth the need for every individual to be alert and to seek medical treatment right after an animal's bite.