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California Teacher Dies from Rabies, Prompting CDC Warning

Dec 7, 2024, 03:45 PM

A California teacher has died from rabies after being bitten by a bat in her classroom, marking one of three rabies-related deaths in the United States within the past month. The incident has prompted the California Department of Public Health to issue a warning to residents about the dangers of rabies exposure, urging those potentially exposed to seek immediate medical attention. The CDC estimates that around 60,000 Americans receive post-exposure treatment each year due to potential rabies exposure. The most common sources of rabies in the US are bites or scratches from bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, in that order.