A 59-year-old British woman from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has died after contracting rabies from a minor scratch by a puppy during a February holiday in Morocco. Yvonne Ford, a mother and grandmother, reportedly had only light contact with the stray animal, which she did not initially consider dangerous. The tragic incident has reignited public health conversations around travel safety, post-exposure protocols, and rabies prevention.
According to a social media statement by her daughter, Robyn Thomson, Mrs. Ford began experiencing symptoms roughly two weeks before her death. What started as a simple headache quickly escalated into a full-blown neurological crisis, rendering her unable to walk, talk, swallow, or sleep. She passed away on 11 June at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, following her diagnosis at Barnsley Hospital. An inquest into her death was officially opened in Sheffield on Wednesday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed there is no public health risk, as rabies is not known to spread between humans. However, close contacts and healthcare professionals involved in Mrs. Ford’s care have been offered precautionary vaccinations and monitoring.
Rabies, a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system, is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 99% of human rabies cases are transmitted via dogs, mostly in Africa and Asia. Although symptoms often take weeks or months to develop, typically between three and 12 weeks, they can sometimes emerge within days. Early signs may include localized numbness, tingling, or discomfort at the site of the bite or scratch, followed by fever, hallucinations, anxiety, difficulty swallowing, and eventual paralysis.
Mrs. Ford’s death marks one of just six cases of human rabies in the UK linked to animal exposure abroad since 2000. Despite its rarity, the case highlights the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after animal bites or scratches, especially when traveling to rabies-endemic regions.
Travelers to high-risk countries are strongly advised to consult a healthcare provider before their trips to assess the need for pre-exposure rabies vaccination. The NHS and UKHSA urge travelers to avoid contact with dogs, cats, and other animals when abroad, and to seek emergency treatment if they’ve been bitten, scratched, or licked by animals in countries where rabies is common.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Ms. Thomson urged the public to take animal bites seriously: “Please vaccinate your pets, educate those around you, and never underestimate the risks even from something as seemingly harmless as a scratch.”
Jane McNicholas, chief medical officer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed that specialist care was provided in the case and extended condolences to the family, stating: “Our thoughts are with the family at this devastating time. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing further comment.”
Mrs. Ford’s untimely passing is now a sobering reminder of the critical importance of post-exposure treatment and awareness when traveling to countries where rabies is still prevalent.
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