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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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Can silver outpace gold in 2025? Here’s what experts think
Gold has long been considered a hedge against inflation and a good investment to diversify into during times of economic uncertainty. That’s why it comes as no surprise that the price of gold hit record highs over the last year. As the price increased, investors flocked to buy gold bars and coins or open gold IRAs, with many first-time gold investors getting in on the action.
It wasn’t just the price of gold that went up, either. Silver prices also rose, with silver IRAs becoming a common alternative to the best gold IRA companies.
With rising demand for both precious metals, many investors have been left wondering whether gold or silver is better for their portfolio. To help you decide, we’ve checked in with some experts who have some insight into whether silver may outpace gold in 2025.
Learn more about how gold investing could benefit your portfolio.
Yes, silver may outpace gold in 2025
With the price of gold topping $2,600 per ounce as of December 1, 2024, compared to around $30 per ounce for silver, gold’s cost per ounce will continue to far exceed silver’s. However, there’s ample reason to believe silver will see a greater percentage increase in value than gold in the upcoming year.
“I believe silver will outpace and outperform gold in 2025,” says Daniel Boston, founder of Preserve Gold.
Gold reached a new high of nearly $2,000 per ounce in 2011 in response to the 2008 financial crisis, Boston says. With its current price of around $2,700 per ounce, you’d be buying at the top of the market if you bought gold now. However, while gold and silver tend to move in tandem, silver’s all-time high — also in 2011 — was just under $50 an ounce. Today, the price of silver is hovering around $30, so there’s much more potential for growth.
“If you buy gold around $2,700 per ounce today, you are buying gold at the absolute top of the market. Buying anything at the top of the market just never sits right with me,” Boston says. “For silver to return to its 2011 high, for the simple fact that gold is already there, could mean nearly doubling your investment dollar from current levels. You may have a lot more upside in silver with a lot less downside risk, so that’s where I believe investors should be focused right now.”
Jose Gomez, a partner at Summit Metals, also believes silver’s percentage gains are likely to exceed gold’s in 2025.
“My estimate is a rise of 25-30% from today’s approximately $30-dollar spot price,” Gomez says. “Silver can reach $38 to outpace gold by 10%. Gold has an upside to hit $2900 in 2025 from today’s $2,650 price.”
Gomez believes silver is likely to outperform because “the gold price has been locked in by institutional investors since early this year, bitcoin is taking a market share of gold retail investors, and gold is quite expensive for the average retail investor.”
According to Gomez, while global demand for gold will likely outpace supply and result in continued growth, there’s also likely to be a sharp increase in demand for silver.
“There’s an increased rise in industrial demand from solar energy investments, new EV battery solutions, and military conflicts that require silver as a basis for fast-performing electronics,” Gomez says. “Silver is a better conductor of electricity than copper which makes it the choice of metal for high-end electronics.”
Wheaton Precious Metals CEO Randy Smallwood also points to the rise in industrial demand as a reason silver will outperform this year — but indicated there are other factors in play as well.
“Central banks have set new records in terms of gold purchases, which has helped fuel the price of gold,” Smallwood says. “In October, Russia announced it will begin to accumulate silver in addition to other precious metals. It will be interesting to see if other nations follow suit, potentially driving the demand for silver even higher.”
“Analysts have pointed to a notable increase in China’s apparent demand for silver, up by more than 20% year over year,” Smallwood says, which isn’t entirely explained by rising industrial demand. “We’re also seeing a resurgence of interest from retail investors, many of whom are buying silver for the first time in years. If this trend continues, and global ETF demand for silver picks up in the new year, we could see a positive shift in the market.”
With ample evidence that silver could overperform, silver investors may have an unprecedented opportunity.
“With the current gold-to-silver ratio hovering just under 90, it’s important to note that outside of the exceptional circumstances of the 1990-91 Gulf War and the 2020 COVID-related shutdowns, there have been very few instances where silver has been priced this attractively,” Smallwood says.
Take steps to add gold to your investment portfolio today.
No, silver won’t outpace gold in 2025
While this is good news for silver enthusiasts, it’s also important to note that uniform consensus is lacking regarding which precious metal has the most potential this year.
“I think it is very unlikely that silver will outperform gold in 2025,” says Michael Martin, vice president of market strategy at TradingBlock. “In inflationary environments, investors typically flock to gold first. Additionally, with Bitcoin drawing attention away from traditional inflation hedges, silver is even further sidelined.”
Martin points to the preference for gold among central banks due to its stability, which could further drive demand in today’s debt-ridden global economy.
“During times of uncertainty like today, with wars and geopolitical tensions affecting the world, gold has historically been the first choice for investors. Considering the persistent inflation and geopolitical issues, I see little reason to believe silver will outshine gold,” Martin says.
Luciano Duque, chief investment officer at C3 Bullion, also says that while silver does have a greater potential upside in the long run, he doesn’t believe it will outpace gold in the coming year.
“Gold needs to consolidate its upward trajectory, and the silver price will probably follow along at the same rate or closer,” Duque says. “Now, the change will happen after, let’s say, a full 2025 of steady gold price increase. Then, I do foresee a silver price increasing its upward trajectory faster than gold, aiming for that traditional gold-to-silver price ratio of 15:1. So, in short, my thinking is that in 2025, gold will continue to rise, with silver following along. In 2026, I foresee gold rising at the same speed but silver outpacing that speed.”
The bottom line
The good news is, while it’s unclear if gold or silver will shine this year, it’s likely the price of both will continue to rise. Mark Charnet, founder and CEO of American Prosperity Group, recommends investors gain exposure to both by investing in “a mutual fund that specializes in precious metals which would include mining company shares of both metals and a whole lot more.”
For those who wish to avoid the fees these funds can come with, though, direct investments in gold, silver, or both will likely produce gains in 2025, and both precious metals may deserve a place in your diversified portfolio.
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