A British woman has died from rabies after a minor scratch from a stray puppy in Morocco.
According to Sky News, the family of the woman named Yvonne Ford said that she contacted rabies from a “slight scratch” from a puppy during their holiday in Morocco earlier this year.
Her daughter revealed that the woman travelled to Morocco for a holiday in February, where she sustained a scratch from a stray puppy but did not show any illness or symptoms until two weeks ago.
How did the British grandmother die of rabies?
Robyn Thomson, while sharing her tragic loss in a post on Facebook, wrote, “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. 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, which resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow. Resulting in her passing."
Ford was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital. As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), health workers and close contacts of the rabies patient are also assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.
However, there is no evidence of the virus transmission between people.
Rabies cases in the UK and Morocco:
Between 2000 and 2024, six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad have been reported in the UK.
Meanwhile, as per the World Health Organisation’s latest data, a number of deaths from rabies have been reported every year in Morocco from 2010 to 2022.
