A 60-year-old California art teacher, Leah Seneng, has died from rabies after being infected by a bat she found in her classroom. According to her friend, Seneng may have been bitten by the bat when she scooped it up to release it outside, and it later flew away. Seneng didn’t seek medical treatment at the time, and about a month later, she began to feel feverish and her hands were shaking.
She was hospitalized and put in a medically induced coma, but died a few days later at a hospital in Fresno. Public health officials emphasize the importance of immediate medical treatment after contact with an animal that may carry rabies, and it’s unclear why Seneng didn’t seek care initially.
The rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, including bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons. It attacks the central nervous system, causing a brain disease that can lead to death if left untreated. Most rabies infections in the US come from bats, and it’s best to leave wild animals alone and not approach or touch them.
Experts recommend calling a doctor after any encounter with a wild animal, even if you don’t think you’ve been bitten. The California Department of Public Health confirmed Seneng’s case as rabies, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on the virus and its prevention.