California Teacher's Death Linked to Rabies After Bat Bite in Classroom

Leah Seneng, a 60-year-old art teacher, died in November after contracting rabies from a bat she handled at her middle school in Dos Palos, California.

Leah Seneng, an art teacher at Bryant Middle School, died on November 22 after being bitten by a bat in her classroom in mid-October.
Seneng initially showed no symptoms but fell ill a month later, experiencing fever and shaking before being hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma.
Her death marks the first rabies fatality in Fresno County in 32 years, with public health officials emphasizing the importance of immediate medical care following potential rabies exposure.
The California Department of Public Health confirmed rabies as the cause of death, and local health authorities are conducting contact tracing and offering preventative care to close contacts.
Seneng, remembered as a compassionate educator and artist, leaves behind a husband and daughter; a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her family.