Connect with us

CBS News

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

Avatar

Published

on


Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death


Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death

00:30

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

Facebook


“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.



Read the original article

Leave your vote

CBS News

Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni dies at age 81

Avatar

Published

on


Poet and activist Nikki Giovanni dies at age 81 – CBS News


Watch CBS News



Nikki Giovanni, who gained fame over her long career as a poet, author and public speaker, has died at the age of 81. She was the subject of the recent Emmy-winning documentary, “Going to Mars.”

Be the first to know

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.




Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

CBS News

Will HELOC interest rates continue dropping this December?

Avatar

Published

on


gettyimages-2007080773.jpg
HELOC interest rates may continue to decline this December, thanks to a variety of factors.

Getty Images


Interest rates on both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have been on a steady decline for most of 2024, providing homeowners a cost-effective way to borrow money when rates on other products surged. HELOCs, in particular, have hit multiple 2024 lows as of late, making them an attractive option for homeowners who don’t want to be burdened with the fixed rate that a home equity loan comes with. HELOCs, on the other hand, have variable rates that will change every month. And homeowners won’t need to pay to refinance to secure the lower rate as the line of credit will adjust independently.

Understanding this dynamic, then, both current borrowers and those homeowners exploring their possible HELOC options may be wondering about the potential for HELOC interest rates to fall further this December and into 2025. While predicting the future of interest rates is exactly that – a prediction – there is a strong likelihood that HELOC interest rates will continue to trickle downward. Below, we’ll explain why.

See what HELOC interest rate you’d be eligible for here.

Will HELOC interest rates continue dropping this December?

HELOC interest rates are driven by a wide range of complex and interrelated factors. Here’s how rates on this product could fall even further this month, even if by a marginal degree:

Inflation could continue to drop. The latest inflation reading for October showed the rate increasing to 2.6%, more than half a percentage point above where the Federal Reserve would like it to be. But if the new report, scheduled for a December 11 release, shows inflation falling again, it could encourage lenders to start reducing their rate offers across products, including those on HELOCs. That said, an inflation reading is only one of a multitude of influencers and it is possible that other economic data could negatively affect HELOC rates, too. But if inflation looks encouraging, lenders may start reducing their HELOC rates in advance of a formal Fed rate cut later in the month.

Explore your current HELOC options online now.

The Fed could continue cutting interest rates. This factor comes in combination with the above one. But a 25 basis point cut to the federal funds rate for when the Fed meets again on December 17 and December 18 is becoming increasingly likely. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool has a cut listed at an 86% likelihood currently. And it will become a virtual certainty between now and then should other economic data encouraging a rate cut be released. That all noted, many lenders may have already started pricing in these presumed rate cuts into their current offers, meaning that what you see listed on online lender marketplaces after December 18 may not be materially different from what you saw listed in the days leading up to the final Fed meeting of 2024.

What about a home equity loan?

Home equity loans are also worth exploring now, albeit with the recognition that they won’t be as cost-effective in a cooling rate climate as a HELOC will be. With their fixed interest rates, borrowers will need to wait for rates to fall significantly to make a refinance worth the time and money. On the other hand, rates on home equity loans are averaging 8.40% now for qualified borrowers, 15 basis points lower than the average 8.55% HELOC rate. And while that may not seem to be much, it can add up to significant savings over a 10 or 15-year repayment period. So it’s worth exploring this home equity borrowing alternative, too, before formally applying for either.

The bottom line

The downward trend HELOC interest rates have been on in the first 11-plus months of 2024 could continue this December, assuming some influencing economic factors break in a certain way. At the same time, home equity loans are slightly cheaper now and they come with the security of a fixed interest rate, which may be attractive for borrowers in today’s evolving rate climate. So explore both before applying – and remember that your home functions as collateral in these borrowing exchanges, making it critical that you only withdraw an amount you can easily afford to pay back to the lender.



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

CBS News

How will Trump change AI safety regulations?

Avatar

Published

on


How will Trump change AI safety regulations? – CBS News


Watch CBS News



President-elect Donald Trump has promised changes to policies regarding artificial intelligence. Elizabeth Kelly, the director of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, joins CBS News with more on the safety atmosphere already in place to study the technology.

Be the first to know

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.




Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024 Breaking MN

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.