Even although fewer than 10 folks within the nation die from rabies every year, it’s nearly at all times deadly if not handled rapidly.
DOS PALOS, Calif — A central California instructor died final month after she was bitten by a bat inside her classroom that presumably had rabies, officers and the girl’s good friend stated.
In the wake of Leah Seneng’s demise on Nov. 22, public well being officers are warning the general public in regards to the risks of bats, that are the commonest supply of human rabies within the U.S. Even although fewer than 10 folks within the nation die from rabies every year, it’s nearly at all times deadly if not handled rapidly.
Seneng, 60, discovered a bat in her classroom in mid-October, her friend Laura Splotch told KFSN-TV. She tried to scoop it up and take it outdoors nevertheless it bit her, Splotch stated.
Seneng didn’t instantly have signs of rabies however she fell ailing weeks later and was taken to the hospital, the place she was put right into a medically-induced coma and died days later, Splotch informed the TV station.
The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District, in an announcement, referred to as Seneng “a devoted and compassionate educator.”
“We have been shocked to be taught that Leah’s passing was associated to contracting rabies, almost certainly from being bitten by a bat and we’re cooperating with the Merced County Department of Public Health on their investigation,” the assertion stated. “We stay and work in a neighborhood recognized to have bats and different wildlife round college grounds, and we are going to proceed to assist educate our neighborhood relating to the hazards related to coming into direct contact with any wild animal, together with bats.”
Merced County confirmed the rabies publicity however, because of privateness legal guidelines, didn’t launch the deceased’s identify. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the sufferer died after contracting rabies.
