A 60-year-old woman from central California died from rabies on Nov. 22, a month after she was suspected of being bitten by a bat.
The death of the Fresno County resident, who was a teacher, marks a rare fatality to the disease in the United States.
The victim, Leah Seneng, was believed to have been bitten by a bat in Merced County, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in a Nov. 27 press release.
Seneng found the 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 have symptoms of rabies but she fell sick several weeks later and was taken to the hospital, Splotch told the TV station. There, Seneng was put into a medically induced coma. She died four days later.
“It’s just devastating to see her in that state, with all the machines hooked up and everything, it was pretty upsetting and scary,” Splotch said.
Seneng taught at Byrant Middle School in Dos Palos.
The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District, in a statement, called her “a dedicated and compassionate educator.”
“We were shocked to learn that Leah’s passing was related to contracting rabies, most likely from being bitten by a bat and we are cooperating with the Merced County Department of Public Health on their 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 regarding the dangers associated with coming into direct contact with any wild animal, including bats.”
In response to Seneng’s death, Splotch has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Warning the Public
In the wake of the teacher’s death, 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. Even though fewer than 10 people in the country die from rabies each year, it is almost always fatal if not treated quickly.
Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, has warned people to be extra cautious around wild animals.
“It is always safest to leave wild animals alone. Do not approach, touch, or try to feed any animals that you don’t know,” he stated.
The CDPH, in collaboration with the Fresno County Department of Public Health, Merced County Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were investigating rabies as a possible cause of Seneng’s symptoms in mid-November.
The state’s Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory confirmed evidence of rabies through samples collected from the hospital where Seneng was being treated.
Dr. Aragón said rabies requires immediate medical attention.
“Bites from bats can be incredibly small and difficult to see or detect. It is important to wash your hands and look for any open wounds after touching a wild animal, and to seek immediate medical care if bitten,” he said.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects mammals, including humans. In California, bats and skunks are the most common carriers of the virus.
Symptoms of rabies typically appear three to eight weeks after exposure but can occur earlier or later. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
The CDPH recommends a number of preventive measures against rabies, including vaccinating pets, avoiding handling wild animals, and seeking immediate medical attention if bitten by an animal, particularly if it is wild or exhibiting unusual behavior.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.