Leah Seneng Obituary, Death; Art Teacher, 60, Dies of Rabies After Bat Bites Her in Classroom: ‘She Was Trying to Scoop It Up’

Leah Seneng Obituary, Death; – A middle school teacher from California has passed away after being bitten by a bat in her classroom.

Leah Seneng, aged 60, sustained injuries when she unexpectedly encountered the bat at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos last October, as reported by her friend Laura Splotch to local ABC affiliate KFSN.

“I am unsure if she believed the bat was dead or what led it to be in her classroom, but she attempted to scoop it up to take it outside,” Splotch explained to the news outlet. “She had no intention of harming it. However, at that moment, it seems the bat either awakened or noticed the light.”

Following the bite, Splotch noted that Seneng did not exhibit any immediate symptoms of rabies; however, her health deteriorated significantly about a month later, prompting her daughter to admit her to the hospital, where she was placed in a coma. On November 22, just four days after her hospitalization, Seneng sadly passed away, according to reports from KFSN and The Fresno Bee.

In the wake of Seneng’s death, the Fresno County Department of Public Health has stated that there is currently no public health risk concerning potential rabies exposure in the vicinity. Both the Fresno County and Merced County health departments are conducting investigations, as reported by KFSN.

A representative from Fresno County confirmed to KFSN and The Fresno Bee that individuals who had contact with Seneng have received medical care. “So far, vaccines have been administered to both healthcare workers and household contacts,” the representative stated.

“As is standard with any disease, close contacts and family members are informed and offered preventive care as they are identified,” a health official from Merced County informed The Fresno Bee.

Fresno County Deputy Health Officer Trinidad Solis further explained to the outlet that symptoms of rabies in humans typically manifest within four to eight weeks. If a vaccine is not administered within that timeframe, the outcome is nearly always fatal, he noted.

“Symptoms usually progress rapidly,” Solis remarked to The Fresno Bee. In light of her unexpected passing, Seneng’s family has established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with her funeral expenses.