A California woman died of rabies after being bitten by a bat in her classroom, according to Fresno County health officials.
The woman, later identified as Leah Seneng, 60, constitutes the first human case of rabies in Fresno County since 1992.
“In general, rabies is a disease that affects the brain and it is very rare. But when it develops, it can have very serious consequences,” said Dr. Trnidad Solis, deputy head of health of the Department of Fresno County Health. “It’s transmitted through saliva; it’s not airborne.”
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Leah Seneng, 60, was the first human case of rabies in Fresno County since 1992, according to county health officials. (GoFundMe)
Seneng, who was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, was bitten by a bat while trying to save it in her classroom, according to local media ABC30 reported.
She first came into contact with the bat in October, but didn’t show symptoms until about a month later, according to Fresno County health officials. She was admitted to hospital and died four days later.
Leah Seneng was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California. (Map Quest)
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“The most common route of transmission is the bite of an animal with rabies. Unfortunately, there is no cure for rabies. So when symptoms appear, there is no treatment, and often when it develops, it is often fatal so we want the public to know that prevention is key to preventing rabies infection,” Solis said.
Fresno County officials do not believe there is a public health threat at this time, but are working with the Merced County Health Department to identify any other possible exposures and administer vaccines.
Health experts recommend that people and pets get vaccinated against rabies. (iStock)
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Seneng’s colleagues created a GoFundMe account to help his family during this time.
