A Central California girl died from rabies after she was bitten by a bat, officers mentioned Tuesday, within the first fatality from the saliva-passed disease in her county in additional than 30 years.
Leah Seneng, 60, handed away on Nov. 22 after she was bitten by the bat inside her classroom at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos in Merced County on Oct. 14, buddy and household spokesperson Laura Splotch instructed NBC News on Tuesday.
Seneng, an artwork trainer, noticed the bat in her classroom and did not suppose something of serving to it get on its means, in line with Splotch.
“She discovered it in her classroom earlier than college began and, being a kind-hearted individual, she did not wish to harm any animals. So she simply scooped it as much as take it outdoors,” Splotch mentioned. “And that is when she thought it simply scratched her after which it simply flew away.”
While the sight of a bat in an indoor area is not terribly unusual on this a part of rural California, Merced County Public Health spokesperson Megan Black urged warning when coming into shut contact with one.
“Don’t interact,” Black mentioned Tuesday. “Do not work together with it. You wish to report this to your animal management and notify your medical supplier (if there’s contact with the animal).”
Seneng did not really feel any signs for weeks earlier than she went to St. Agnes Medical Center on Nov. 18 and her situation shortly worsened, Splotch mentioned.
This rabies demise was the primary in Fresno County since 1992, in line with deputy well being officer Dr. Trinidad Solis.
“Rabies is 100% preventable if people search medical care immediately,” Solis instructed reporters final week, shortly after Seneng’s passing.
Seneng was type, inventive and had a darkish humorousness, in line with Splotch. As tragic as Seneng’s passing was, Splotch insisted her buddy would have discovered away to have amusing about it.
“It’s very surprising nonetheless to suppose that she’s not round due to one thing so random,” her buddy mentioned.
Splotch imagined Seneng in all probability having a darkish giggle and quipping: “This wasn’t on my demise bingo card.”
Seneng is survived by her husband and daughter. The trainer loved her summer time trip, which included a visit to her husband’s native Bali, Splotch mentioned.
