Grandmother dies in Yorkshire from rabies after 'slight scratch' from stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco

There have been six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad that have been reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.

Wednesday 18 June 2025 15:35, UK

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A British grandmother has died after contracting rabies from a "slight scratch" from a puppy during a holiday in Morocco, her family has said.

Yvonne Ford's daughter said she travelled to the North African country in February but did not become ill until two weeks ago.

Robyn Thomson said in a Facebook post: "Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others.

"She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February," she said. "At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it.

"Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing."

Ms Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was diagnosed with the virus at Barnsley Hospital.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said health workers and close contacts were being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.

It said there was no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be transmitted between people.

What is rabies and how is it treated?

Rabies is caused by a virus invading the central nervous system.

It is spread by mammals - such as cats, dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes - but in the UK it's only found in some bats, according to the NHS.

Once symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The first symptoms can mirror a flu, while later symptoms include numbness or tingling in the affected area, hallucinations, anxiety, difficulty swallowing or breathing, nausea, vomiting, agitation, excessive saliva and paralysis.

But if seen to promptly after a bite, scratch or lick by an animal that may carry the virus, treatment is usually very effective at preventing the condition.

Treatment usually involves two or more doses of the rabies vaccine or a medicine called rabies immunoglobulin, which is a liquid administered to the wound and is only required if the patient has not had the rabies vaccine or has a weakened immune system.

The rabies vaccine is recommended if you're travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common.

Around 60,000 people die every year from rabies worldwide, with the majority in Africa and Asia, according to the WHO.

Dr Katherine Russell at the UKHSA said: "I would like to extend my condolences to this individual's family at this time.

"If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies."

The UKHSA urges travellers to rabies-affected countries, for example in Asia and Africa, to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible and check whether a vaccination is needed before travelling.

There have been six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad that have been reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.

This includes a case in 2012, when a UK resident died after being bitten by a dog - the most common source of infection in most parts of the world - in South Asia.

The latest case was in 2018, when another Briton died after being bitten by a cat in Morocco.

Latest World Health Organisation figures show a number of deaths from rabies in Morocco have been reported every year from 2010 to 2022.

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.

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