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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.
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Amid manhunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s shooter, NYPD divers return to Central Park lake in search of clues
NEW YORK — The NYPD searched the lake in Central Park again Sunday, hoping to recover evidence linked to last week’s murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan.
As the manhunt for the gunman continues, officials said on Sunday they’re narrowing their search.
The latest images released of the person of interest police are looking for show him in the backseat of a taxi, still with his mask on, and another shows him just outside of the cab. The FBI released a poster highlighting a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
“The net is tightening and we’re going to bring this person to justice,” Mayor Eric Adams said.
NYPD divers return to Central Park lake on Sunday
NYPD divers searched Central Park’s lake on Sunday after sources told CBS News New York that Saturday’s search was unsuccessful.
A woman told CBS News New York she saw the dive teams in the lake on Saturday, but didn’t see them come out with anything.
“This corner was blocked off with probably five policemen, one van and we saw scuba gear and a couple divers getting in, just kind of splashing around, looking in this area,” the witness said.
Investigators found what is believed to be the person of interest’s backpack containing a jacket on Friday in the park. That area is still blocked off by police tape.
Forensic testing results on the backpack still need to come in before determining whether it’s linked to the shooter, who gunned down Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday.
Law enforcement knows the name of the person of interest
The mayor said on Saturday that law enforcement knows who they are looking for, but don’t want to tip him off by announcing his name prematurely.
“We don’t want to release that now. If you do, you are basically giving a tip to the person we are find … we’re seeking, and we do not want to give him an upper hand at all. Let him continue to believe he can hide behind the mask,” Adams said.
The only images believed to be of the person of interest without a mask were captured on surveillance cameras from inside an Upper West Side hostel, where police sources say he had a flirtatious encounter with the front desk employee.
Police sources say investigators with the NYPD and U.S. Marshals Service have been dispatched to Atlanta and along the Greyhound bus route stops between Atlanta and New York City. They want to find out where the suspect boarded the bus that took him to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Nov. 24, and are canvassing the Greyhound terminals and reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to pin down at what point he boarded the bus.
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