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
What to know about Austin Tice, journalist held in Syria who U.S. is “committed to returning” to his family
Washington — The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has raised hopes that more information could come to light on the whereabouts of journalist Austin Tice, who is believed to still be alive more than 12 years after his kidnapping.
After a rebel offensive brought an end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family on Sunday, President Biden expressed optimism that Tice could be returned to the U.S.
“We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet,” Mr. Biden said at the White House Sunday. “We have to identify where he is.”
Tice, a Marine veteran and freelance journalist disappeared on Aug. 14, 2012, while he was reporting on the Syrian civil war. Weeks later, a short video appeared online that showed a distressed Tice blindfolded with his apparent captors. It was the last time he was seen.
Though no one has ever claimed responsibility for his disappearance, Mr. Biden previously said that the U.S. knows “with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime.”
“We remain committed to returning him to his family,” Mr. Biden said Sunday.
Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Monday that the U.S. has been in engaged with its allies and others on the ground in Syria “to track who’s coming out of these prisons.”
“We are committed to reuniting Austin Tice with his family, and we’re going to work with people in Syria to make that happen,” Sullivan said.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed Monday that the government’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, is in neighboring Lebanon working on Tice’s case.
“He is in Beirut to talk with people in the region, to talk with parties in the region, to collect information and to try to find out where Austin Tice is and get him home as soon as possible,” Miller said.
CBS News has reached out to the Tice family for comment.
Tice family says “significant source” provided new details
Two days before rebels toppled the Assad regime, Tice’s parents and siblings questioned Sullivan about his case in a meeting they said had been planned for months.
Debra Tice, his mother, said at a news conference later in the day that “Austin Tice is alive” and “is being cared for and he is well.” She said the information was from a “significant source” that had been vetted by the U.S. government.
Marc Tice, his father, said the new information “is very different” from past leads.
“We are confident that this information is fresh. It indicates as late as earlier this year that Austin is alive and being cared for,” he said.
But the family also said they’re frustrated with the U.S. government’s inability to bring him home and said they received few assurances about the Biden administration’s efforts.
“There just seems to be a massive disconnect between what President Biden has dictated for Austin in terms of doing everything that we can to bring him home, and then the actions and the behavior of the people that sit just below him,” his brother Simon Tice said at the news conference.
The family also blamed the U.S. government for preventing the release of information about the source of Austin Tice’s well-being.
CBS News
3 home equity borrowing mistakes seniors should avoid now
Home equity can be a powerful tool for millions of homeowners – especially right now. With the average home equity amount hovering around $320,000 currently and with interest rates on home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) many points lower than the popular alternatives, this option is uniquely advantageous. Add in the dynamic of a cooling wider rate climate and the inherent potential for home equity loans and HELOCs to become less expensive and it becomes clear why many homeowners would prefer this option over personal loans, credit cards, and others.
Still, home equity borrowing comes with some notable risks, too. If you fail to repay all that’s been withdrawn, you could lose your home to the lender. So it’s critical to go into this borrowing circumstance with a clear and strategic approach. This is particularly true for seniors and retirees with limited ability to weather financial missteps. Borrowing home equity for these groups can be advantageous – and risky, if certain mistakes are made. To improve their chances of success, it helps seniors to know which home equity borrowing mistakes to avoid now. Below, we’ll break down three to know.
Considering a home equity loan? See how much you could be eligible to borrow here.
3 home equity borrowing mistakes seniors should avoid now
Are you a senior considering home equity as a funding source? While this can be a smart way to make ends meet, borrowers should avoid making these mistakes, specifically:
Not exploring reverse mortgages first
Both home equity loans and HELOCs have lower rates than some other options but they’ll still require that a borrower have the funds necessary to make payments each month. A reverse mortgage won’t. This option allows owners to instead receive monthly payments from the lender, deducted from their home equity. The money will need to be repaid if the house is sold or if the owner dies. But it can still be a valuable alternative to first explore, especially compared to the monthly routine of making home equity loan payments.
Check your reverse mortgage options online today.
Using it for the wrong reasons
During the holiday season – or in January, when dealing with big amounts of credit card debt – it can be tempting to utilize any funding source available, including home equity. But that would be a mistake for most borrowers and is an especially significant one for seniors tied to limited budgets. There are reliable, tax-advantageous reasons to use your home equity (like for home repairs and renovations). Holiday spending, buying a new car, or financing a wedding are risky ways to do so. So, if your ability to make the payments each month is strained, it’s critical that your use of the financing is cost-effective.
Not shopping for rates and lenders
It’s always a mistake to skip the shopping phase, but especially so for those borrowers looking to secure the cheapest rates and terms. So be sure to shop for home equity lenders before finalizing your application. Since you don’t need to use your current mortgage lender, it behooves you to research competitors. Once you’ve found an offer you can work with, consider then going back to your current lender to see if they can beat it. Just don’t take the first offer you receive, as it could be significantly higher than what would have been found with some simple, online research and price quote-gathering.
Shop for home equity loans online now.
The bottom line
Seniors looking for an extra financing source may be well-served by turning to their home equity, particularly in today’s unique economic climate. By avoiding these mistakes, they can potentially position themselves for better financial success both now and in the future.
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UnitedHealthcare CEO killing person of interest had gun, silencer when found in PA, sources say
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