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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.”

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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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The Social Security Fairness Act has bipartisan support, but time is running out

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The House-passed Social Security Fairness Act enjoys rare bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, yet the odds of it getting enacted are growing smaller with each passing day. 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a vote on the bill that would expand Social Security benefits to roughly 2.8 million retirees. Schumer, a Democrat and cosponsor of the legislation, could invoke a Senate rule that would skip a committee hearing and send the bill directly to a floor vote by the full Senate. 

The legislation would eliminate a provision that cuts Social Security payments to some retirees who also collect a pension from jobs not covered by the retirement program. That includes state and federal workers like teachers, police officers and U.S. postal workers. It would also end a second provision that reduces Social Security benefits for those workers’ surviving spouses and family members. 

“With just eight legislative days remaining in the 118th Congress, Sen. Schumer, a cosponsor of Senate bill S.597, must now step up and take action. It’s time for him to follow through and bring it to the floor for a vote,” Shannon Benton executive director of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), told CBS MoneyWatch on Friday.

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) “penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension,” Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy told colleagues earlier in the week. When those workers “have second jobs, second careers or get married, they receive less from Social Security than if they had never worked in public service at all. That’s not right.” 

In an impassioned speech, Cassidy called on Schumer to schedule a vote, saying lawmakers would approve the legislation.

“If Schumer brings it up, it’ll pass,” Cassidy stated of the bill, which has 62 sponsors.

A similar plea was also made by New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who late last month held a press conference to urge passage of the measure. “Retired teachers &firefighters deserve access to the Social Security benefits they’ve earned. That’s why I’m working to repeal provisions that unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for public servants. Let’s get it done!” Gillibrand also posted on social media.

Introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garret Graves, R-La., the bill was passed by the House on Nov. 11 in a 327-75 vote.

The following day, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, wrote to Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican of Kentucky, urging action.

“You have the opportunity to bring this bill across the finish line,” they stated in a letter.

Various forms of the measure have been introduced over the years, but like many legislative proposals, they had failed to get enacted. 

“I’ve been working at the league 25 years, and I don’t remember ever not having a version,” said Benton. “There is so much momentum, if it doesn’t get passed now, a lot of people will lose hope.”

Schumer did not respond to requests for comment. 

“His office will probably say something about not having time because of the confirmation hearings, etc. We say, ‘Add a day to the schedule.’ It’s been done before,” Benton said. 





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Person of interest in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting believed to have left New York City

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Details on person of interest in CEO shooting


Details on person of interest in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

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Investigators believe that a person of interest in connection with the deadly shooting Wednesday of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare is no longer in New York City, a person familiar with the matter told CBS News Friday.

Newly released surveillance photos show a person who police say they want to question after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Newly released surveillance photos show a person who police say they want to question after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed Wednesday outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

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This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.



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Out-of-work Americans facing longer waits for new job

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Out-of-work Americans facing longer waits for new job – CBS News


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It’s taking longer for hundreds of thousands of out-of-work Americans to find new jobs, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cory Stahle, an economist for Indeed, joined CBS News to discuss why that’s happening.

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