California teacher dies of rabies after being infected by a bat that flew into her classroom

A California art teacher died of rabies on November 22, about a month after she became infected by a bat she found in her classroom, according to CNN.

Photo: Carlos Duarte | Dreamstime.com

Leah Seneng, 60, may have been bitten when she picked up the bat to release it outside, according to a friend of the deceased teacher, Laura Sploch.

"Leah came into her classroom early in the morning before the kids came and found a bat on the floor. She picked it up and took it outside," Sploch said. "I think it bit her or scratched her and then flew away. Leah wasn't worried about anything, she just told her daughter about it."

Health officials stress the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after coming into contact with an animal that may be carrying rabies. But it is unclear why Seneng did not seek help in time.

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About a month after the incident, in mid-November, Seneng developed a fever and her hands began to shake, Sploch said.

On November 18, she was hospitalized and the next day she was placed into a medically induced coma.

"She was in a coma for four days, and that's when we all got the call to say goodbye to her," Sploch said.

The art teacher died a few days later at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno after visiting close friends. A friend of the deceased said Seneng's husband was nearby and her daughter was in the room, playing music from her mother's playlist, which included Duran Duran.

Leah was an experienced hiker, traveler and artist, said Laura Sploch, who organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help her friend's family.

Leah Seneng, who worked at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, was remembered by the school district as a "dedicated and compassionate educator."

“We were shocked to learn that Leah’s death was related to rabies, most likely from a bat bite. We are working with the Merced County Department of Public Health to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” Dos Palos-Oro Loma Unified School District said in a statement. “Our community is known for having bats and other wildlife around our school grounds. We will continue to educate people about the dangers of direct contact with any wildlife, including bats.”

The California Department of Public Health said Seneng's case has been confirmed as rabies.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, including through saliva or tissue from the brain and nervous system. The virus attacks the central nervous system, causing brain disease that can be fatal.

The CDC says most rabies cases in the U.S. come from bats. Strange behavior, such as trouble flying, being active during the day, or appearing in a house or on the ground, are potential signs that a bat has rabies. Other wild animals, such as skunks, foxes, and raccoons, can also carry the virus.

It's best to never touch a bat, but if you think you've been scratched or bitten, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek medical attention.

“Bat bites can be incredibly small and difficult to detect. It’s important to wash your hands and check for open wounds after touching a wild animal, and to seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten,” advises California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Thomas H. Aragon. “The safest thing to do is leave wild animals alone. Do not approach, handle, or attempt to feed any you don’t know.”

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Some experts recommend calling a doctor after any encounter with a wild animal, even if you don't think you've been bitten.

Fortunately, deaths are rare. Fewer than 10 people a year die from rabies in the United States, and about 60 people receive post-exposure prophylaxis each year after being infected with the virus.

Post-exposure treatment is available in most emergency departments. For people who have not received the rabies vaccine, treatment includes a single dose of immune globulin and four doses of the vaccine over two weeks.

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