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 lady’s good friend stated.
In the wake of Leah Seneng’s loss of life on Nov. 22, public well being officers are warning the general public concerning the risks of bats, that are the commonest supply of human rabies within the U.S. Even although fewer than 10 individuals within the nation die from rabies annually, it’s nearly at all times deadly if not handled shortly.
Seneng, 60, discovered a bat in her classroom in mid-October, her good friend Laura Splotch advised KFSN-TV. She tried to scoop it up and take it exterior, however it bit her, Splotch stated.
Seneng didn’t instantly have signs of rabies, however she fell unwell weeks later and was taken to the hospital, the place she was put right into a medically induced coma and died days later, Splotch advised 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, most 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 dwell and work in a group recognized to have bats and different wildlife round faculty grounds, and we’ll proceed to assist educate our group concerning the hazards related to coming into direct contact with any wild animal, together with bats.”
Merced County confirmed the rabies publicity however, resulting from privateness legal guidelines, didn’t launch the deceased’s title. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the sufferer died after contracting rabies.
