After being bitten by a bat, a woman in Central California died of rabies, according to officials on Tuesday. This is the first death from the saliva-passed disease in her county in over 30 years.
Laura Splotch, a friend and family representative, informed NBC News on Tuesday that Leah Seneng, 60, died on November 22 after being bitten by a bat inside her classroom at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, Merced County, on October 14.
Splotch claims that Seneng, an art teacher, noticed the bat in her classroom but did not consider assisting it in its journey.
Before classes began, she discovered it in her classroom, and as she was a good-hearted person, she didn’t want to harm any animals. Splotch remarked, “So she just picked it up and took it outside.” “And that’s when she thought it just scratched her and then it just flew away.”
Although it’s not very unusual to see a bat indoors in this area of rural California, Megan Black, the Merced County health spokesperson, advised being cautious when approaching one up close.
Black warned, “Don’t engage,” on Tuesday. “Avoid engaging with it. If there has been contact with the animal, you should inform your doctor and report this to your animal control.
According to Splotch, Seneng’s condition rapidly deteriorated when she visited St. Agnes Medical Center on November 18 after experiencing no symptoms for weeks.
According to deputy health officer Dr. Trinidad Solis, this was Fresno County’s first rabies death since 1992.
“If people seek medical attention immediately, rabies is 100% preventable,” Solis told reporters last week, shortly after Seneng’s death.
Splotch said Seneng was clever, friendly, and had a dark sense of humor. Even though Seneng’s death was heartbreaking, Splotch maintained that her friend would have managed to find a way to laugh about it.
“It’s very shocking still to think that she’s no longer around because of something so random,” the buddy said.
With a sardonic chuckle, Splotch pictured Seneng saying, “This wasn’t on my death bingo card.”
Seneng’s daughter and spouse survive her. According to Splotch, the instructor had a great time during her summer break, which included a visit to her husband’s home island of Bali.
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