Teacher Dies of Rabies After Bat Bite in Classroom

A tragic story has emerged from California, where a beloved teacher lost her life to rabies after an unexpected encounter with a bat in her classroom.

Sixty-year-old Leah Seneng, an artist and dedicated art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, tragically passed away after being bitten by a bat she discovered in her classroom. Fresno County health officials have confirmed this heartbreaking case.

BAT BITES KILL | Fresno Teacher Dies from Bat Bite

According to her friend, Laura Splotch, Leah found the bat lying on the floor of her classroom. Thinking it was injured or dead, she attempted to gently scoop it up to take it outside. She didn’t want to harm the creature. However, the bat suddenly became active, startling Leah and biting her in the process.

Leah initially showed no symptoms, which is common in rabies cases. Symptoms typically appear four to eight weeks after exposure. Sadly, by the time she sought medical care in mid-November, it was too late. She was admitted to the hospital on November 18th and tragically passed away just days later, on November 22nd.

Rabies is a fatal viral disease spread through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes in the United States. Once symptoms begin—such as confusion, agitation, seizures, or fear of water—there is no cure.

Leah’s story highlights the importance of seeking immediate medical care after any potential exposure. A post-exposure vaccine can save lives by giving the body time to develop antibodies to fight the virus.

In the U.S., human rabies cases are extremely rare, with only one to three reported annually. However, around 60,000 Americans receive the post-exposure vaccine each year after encounters with potentially rabid animals.

Don’t touch or attempt to remove a bat in your presence. Call an expert specialist like United Bat Control at 866.747-2287.