CBS News
California teacher dies after being bitten by a bat inside her classroom
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.”
“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.
CBS News
Fortnite and other Epic Games customers are about to get a $72 million refund. Here’s why.
Fortnite players and other Epic Games customers tricked by the game maker into making unwanted purchases are set to receive refund payments from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
As part of a settlement first announced in December 2022, the video game maker has been ordered by the FTC to pay $245 million to resolve allegations that it used unlawful billing practices involving design tricks known as dark patterns to get players to unintentionally rack up charges. It is the largest ever refund amount in a gaming case, the agency said.
The FTC says it is sending more than 629,000 payments Monday, with more disbursements to come at a later date. About half of the first tranche of payments will be made through PayPal, and the other half will be checks. Collectively, customers will receive $72 million in refunds, according to the agency.
How much money will each customer get?
The average payment is around $114, the FTC said. Epic Games customers who are entitled to refunds selected their payment method when they submitted a claim form. Customers who chose to receive PayPal payments have 30 days to redeem the funds, while check recipients have 90 days to cash them.
What did Epic Games do?
The FTC alleges the Fortnite-maker used dark patterns along with a variety of other tactics to trick customers into making unwanted purchases.
For example, a “counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration” led Fortnite players to easily incur unwanted charges with the press of a single button, according to the FTC. Additionally, trying to transition the game from sleep to wake mode often triggered unwanted purchases. Other times, pressing an “adjacent button” while trying to preview an item led to a charge.
“As our complaints note, Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that tricked Fortnite users, including teenagers and children,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in December 2022, when the settlement was first announced. “Protecting the public, and especially children, from online privacy invasions and dark patterns is a top priority for the Commission, and these enforcement actions make clear to businesses that the FTC is cracking down on these unlawful practices.”
CBS News
What to know about ghost guns, the type of untraceable firearm CEO Brian Thompson’s shooter may have used
Luigi Mangione, a person of interest being questioned in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had a ghost gun, a type of firearm that can be made at home, police said Monday.
Mangione was detained on Monday at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, early a week after Thompson was killed in New York City. Thompson was shot in the back and in the calf.
“As of right now the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun, may have been made on a 3D printer, with the capability of firing a 9mm round,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday. “Obviously, that will come out during our ballistics testing.”
During the investigation, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation had told CBS News that police believed the suspect used a B&T Station SIX gun to carry out the shooting. Investigators visited gun dealers in Connecticut during their search. The gun used in the shooting had a long barrel and a distinctive look, CBS News’ Anna Schechter reported. In addition to the unusual gun, the words “delay,” “deny” and possibly “depose” appeared on shell casings and bullets recovered from the shooting scene, police said.
What is a ghost gun?
A privately made firearm, more commonly known as a ghost gun, is a firearm that has been assembled or completed by people other than licensed manufacturers, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
They’re made without a serial number, which can make them difficult to track. Not all ghost guns are illegal and not all firearms are required to have a serial number. Ghost guns can be pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, machineguns and more.
From 2016 through 2021, there were more than 45,000 suspected ghost guns reported to the ATF as having been recovered by police from potential crime scenes.
How do people usually make ghost guns?
Ghost guns can be made using a 3D printer or assembled from a kit. The weapons can be produced for less than $200, though officials have put the average price at around $500, CBS News previously reported.
In 2018, CBS News correspondent Carter Evans was able to purchase a kit for a gun similar to a Glock 9mm with no background check or waiting period. Kits online are available for everything from handguns to AR-15s and AK-47s.
“You can buy a box of firearms parts, and you can assemble those firearms together. And I’ve seen videos on YouTube, where you can see people doing it in record time — 20, 30 minutes,” Marvin Richardson, ATF acting director in 2022, has previously said.
Are ghost guns illegal?
Not all ghost guns are illegal. According to the ATF, individuals can make their own firearms using a 3D printing or other process if the gun is “detectable,” as defined in the Gun Control Act.
It’s generally legal to make a firearm for personal use without a license, according to the ATF.
Some states, including New York — where Thompson’s shooting happened — have additional laws related to ghost guns.
What does a ghost gun look like?
There are many types of ghost guns with a range of appearances. The ATF lists 10 categories of privately made firearms: pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, frame or receiver, machinegun conversion device, destructive device, machinegun, firearm silencer and any other weapon.
CBS News
Trump outlines more plans for second term in White House
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