In Dos Palos, California, a teacher tragically lost her life last month after being bitten by a bat suspected of carrying rabies. Leah Seneng, who was 60 years old, encountered the bat in her classroom in October. According to a friend, she tried to catch the bat to release it outside, but it bit her during the attempt.
Initially, Leah did not show any signs of illness, but she fell seriously ill in the following weeks and was hospitalized. After being placed in a medically induced coma, she sadly passed away days later on November 22.
The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District expressed its grief over the loss, describing Leah as a dedicated and compassionate educator. They stated their shock at the news regarding her death related to rabies, emphasizing the importance of community awareness about wildlife, particularly bats, that are common in the area.
Merced County health officials confirmed that Leah was exposed to rabies, but they could not disclose her name due to privacy regulations. The California Department of Public Health has also acknowledged the circumstances surrounding her passing, reminding the public of the danger rabies poses, even though there are typically very few rabies-related fatalities in the U.S. each year. This unfortunate event has served as a wake-up call for communities to be cautious around wildlife and to understand the potential risks involved.
