California Teacher Dies from Bat Bite in Classroom

A 60-year-old teacher from central California, United States, Leah Seneng, tragically passed away on November 22 after contracting rabies from a bat bite in her classroom.

According to public health officials, the bat, which presumably carried rabies, was found in Seneng’s classroom in mid-October. Despite attempting to remove the bat, Seneng was bitten, her friend Laura Splotch revealed to KFSN-TV.

Initially, Seneng did not exhibit symptoms of rabies but fell ill weeks later. She was hospitalized, placed in a medically-induced coma, and sadly succumbed to the disease.

The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District mourned Seneng’s passing, describing her as “a dedicated and compassionate educator.” The district is cooperating with the Merced County Department of Public Health’s investigation and emphasized the importance of educating the community about the dangers of interacting with wild animals, including bats.

Merced County confirmed the rabies exposure, while the California Department of Public Health verified that the victim died from rabies contracted through the bat bite.

– AP