A California teacher bitten by a bat in her classroom dies of rabies

DOS PALOS, Calif. (AP) — A Central California teacher died last month after she was bitten by a bat suspected of having rabies in her classroom, officials and the woman’s friend said.

Following the death of Leah Seneng on November 22, public health officials are warning the public about the dangers of bats, which are the most common source of human rabies in the United States, although fewer than ten people die from rabies in the country each year, almost always fatal if not treated quickly.

Seneng, 60, found a bat in her classroom in mid-October, her friend Laura Splotch told KFSN-TV. She tried to pick it up and take it outside, but it bit her, Splotch said.

Seneng did not immediately show symptoms of rabies, but became ill weeks later and was taken to the hospital, where she fell into a medically induced coma and died a few days later, Splotch told the television station.

The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District called Seneng “a dedicated and compassionate educator” in a statement.

“We were shocked to learn that Leah’s death was related to exposure to rabies, most likely from a bat bite, and we are cooperating with the Merced County Health Department in the investigation,” the statement said. “We live and work in a community known to have bats and other wildlife around school grounds, and we will continue to help educate our community about the dangers associated with direct contact with wildlife, including bats , are connected.”

Merced County confirmed the rabies threat but did not release the name of the deceased due to privacy concerns. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the victim died of rabies.