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California teacher dies after being bitten by a bat inside her classroom

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Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death


Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death

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A central California teacher died last month after she was bitten by a bat that presumably had rabies inside her classroom, officials and a friend of the woman, marking the third such fatality in North America in recent weeks.  

In the wake of Leah Seneng’s death on Nov. 22, public health officials are warning the public about the dangers of bats, which are the most common source of human rabies in the U.S. Even though fewer than 10 people in the country die from rabies each year, it is almost always fatal if not treated quickly.

Seneng, 60, found a bat in her classroom in mid-October, her friend Laura Splotch told KFSN-TV. She tried to scoop it up and take it outside but it bit her, Splotch said.

Seneng did not immediately have symptoms of rabies but she fell ill weeks later and was taken to the hospital, where she was put into a medically-induced coma and died days later, Splotch told the TV station.

“It’s devastating to see her in that state, with all the machines hooked up and everything, it was pretty upsetting and scary,” Splotch told KFSN.

According to her Facebook profile, Seneng was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California. The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District, called Seneng “a dedicated and compassionate educator.”

leah-seneng-94100744-10158471520937053-2835962146725036032-n.jpg
Leah Seneng

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“We were shocked to learn that Leah’s passing was related to contracting rabies, most likely from being bitten by a bat and we are cooperating with the Merced County Department of Public Health on their investigation,” the school district said in a statement. “We live and work in a community known to have bats and other wildlife around school grounds, and we will continue to help educate our community regarding the dangers associated with coming into direct contact with any wild animal, including bats.”

Merced County confirmed the rabies exposure but, due to privacy laws, did not release the deceased’s name. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the victim died after contracting rabies.

“Bites from bats can be incredibly small and difficult to see or to detect. It is important to wash your hands and look for any open wounds after touching a wild animal, and to seek immediate medical care if bitten,” CDPH Director Dr. Tomás J. Aragón said in a statement. “It is always safest to leave wild animals alone. Do not approach, touch, or try to feed any animals that you don’t know.”   

At least two other people in North America have died of rabies after encountering a bat in recent weeks. Last month, health officials in Canada announced that a child died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in their room. About a week before that, officials announced a U.S. citizen died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July.

How is rabies spread and what are the symptoms?

Rabies is a deadly viral infection that attacks the nervous system in humans and animals, causing brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal through scratching or biting.

Rabies is commonly found in bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks and some household pets. Without proper and prompt treatment after symptoms appear, rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal in both animals and humans, according to Haldimand and Norfolk Health Services, where the child was admitted. 

Treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease if someone is exposed, though it must start before symptoms appear.  

Bats pose a unique risk because their scratches can be hard to notice due to their small teeth, and bats cannot be vaccinated through provincial programs, health officials said.

If bitten by an animal suspected of carrying the virus, health officials advise washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and immediately seeking medical attention.

According to the CDC, the incubation period of rabies may last from weeks to months, depending on the location of exposure, severity of exposure and age.

“The first symptoms of rabies, called prodrome, maybe like the flu, including weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for several days,” the CDC says.



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Analysis of the Bashar Assad regime collapse in Syria

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Analysis of the Bashar Assad regime collapse in Syria – CBS News


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CBS News contributor Andrew Boyd, who previously held leadership positions at the CIA, and Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, provide analysis on the events unfolding in Syria after the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime.

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Situation in Gaza remains dire as ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah holds

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Situation in Gaza remains dire as ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah holds – CBS News


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Israel’s military continues its latest offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza as a weeklong ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to continue to hold. CBS News’ Debora Patta reports from Jerusalem.

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Biden calls Assad’s fall “historic moment of opportunity”

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Washington — President Biden on Sunday called the fall of Syrian leader Bashar Assad a “historic moment of opportunity,” and he pledged to support the country and its neighbors against any threats.

“At long last, the Assad regime has fallen,” Mr. Biden said at the White House, hours after opposition forces entered Damascus and took control of the country.

Mr. Biden pledged to work alongside partners and stakeholders in Syria to “help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk.” The president also said he’ll send senior officials to the region, help to ensure stability and protect U.S. personnel and will engage with Syrian groups to “establish a transition away from the Assad regime” and toward an independent and sovereign Syria. 

Mr. Biden says the administration is “clear eyed” about the possibility that ISIS may try to gain control amid a power vacuum, but he said that “we will not let that happen.” He noted that the U.S. conducted precision airstrikes within Syria targeting ISIS camps and operatives. 

“Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses,” the president said, adding that the U.S. would assess their actions going forward. 

He called on opposition groups to “seek a role in governing Syria” and demonstrate their commitment to Syria’s people, the rule of law and protection of minorities. 



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