A British grandmother has died from rabies four months after being scratched “very slightly” by a puppy in Morocco.
Yvonne Ford came into contact with the dog in February but gradually became more unwell over the past two weeks, first developing a headache, before she was left unable to walk, talk, sleep or swallow.
Her family have now appealed to holidaymakers to protect themselves against the disease.
Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, said: “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love. Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.”
Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, thought nothing of it when she was scratched on a trip to north Africa, Ms Thomson said.
She wrote on Facebook: “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.
“Yvonne Ford, Ron Ford’s wife and our Mum, died of rabies. She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. 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.”
Ford died in Sheffield last Wednesday, according to Sheffield Coroner’s Court, where an inquest was opened and adjourned a week later.
Ms Thomson wrote that her mother was “the heart of our family – strong, loving and endlessly supportive”.
She added: “No words can fully capture the depth of our loss or the impact she had on all of us. We are heartbroken, but also grateful for every moment we had with her.”
And she warned: “Even a minor scratch or bite from an infected animal – wild or domestic – can transmit the virus. If you are ever bitten or scratched, seek medical attention immediately. Post-exposure prophylaxis vaccines can save your life.”
Ford was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital, and government officials said health workers and people who had close contact with her were being assessed as a precautionary measure and being offered vaccinations where necessary.
Her daughter said she was sharing information about rabies to raise awareness, especially how it is preventable through prompt medical care after exposure.
Rabies is passed on through bites and scratches from an infected animal, or if an infected animal licks a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or a wound.
It is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus, health chiefs say.
Ford is the first person in the UK to die from rabies contracted overseas since 2018. The last victim was bitten by a cat while on holiday in Morocco.
Before that, the last reported case of rabies in the UK was in 2012, when a British grandmother died after being bitten by a dog during a holiday to India.
Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonotic diseases at the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family.
“If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found, 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.
“There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.”
Over the past 25 years, there have been just seven UK cases of human rabies linked with animal exposures abroad, all of whom died.
Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms, it’s nearly always fatal.
The first symptoms are similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva.
Information on rabies and bites – both animal and human – were among the top of the list for NHS advice being sought at Christmas 2023.
A UKHSA spokesperson said: “What’s happened is incredibly tragic so we want to make sure people are aware of the risks before they travel.
“There is a vaccine you can have before you go but even if you've been vaccinated, if you are bitten or scratched you should still wash the wound and seek medical attention as soon as possible.”
According to the World Health Organisation, rabies is estimated to kill around 59,000 people a year in more than 150 countries, with 95 per cent of cases in Africa and Asia.
However, the UN health agency states that this is likely to be a vast underestimate, and notes that poorer rural populations are particularly affected, while around half of all cases occur in children below the age of 15.
There were an average of 18 reported deaths linked to rabies each year in Morocco over the decade to 2022, WHO data suggests.
