This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/18/person-dies-of-rabies-in-yorkshire-after-contact-with-dog-in-morocco

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Person dies of rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco Woman dies of rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco
(about 2 hours later)
UK Health Security Agency says person had contact with stray animal while on holiday in north Africa Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, had contact with stray animal while on holiday, UK Health Security Agency says
A person has died in Yorkshire from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. A woman from Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The individual, who is yet to be named, was diagnosed in Yorkshire and Humber after returning from the north African country. Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, was diagnosed in Yorkshire and Humber after returning from the north African country in February.
The UKHSA said there was no risk to the wider public because there was no evidence that rabies could be passed between people. In a Facebook post, Ford’s daughter Robyn Thomson said her mother had become infected after being “scratched very slightly by a puppy”.
However, as a precautionary measure, it was assessing health workers and close contacts, to offer vaccination where necessary. “At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it,” Thomson wrote. “Two weeks ago, she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow.”
Rabies is a deadly virus spread via the saliva of infected animals, and people usually contract it after being bitten by an infected animal. Thomson, who said her mother died soon afterwards, warned people about the dangers of rabies. “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love,” she wrote. “Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.”
Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in some countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people. The UKHSA said there was no risk to the wider public because there was no evidence that rabies could be passed between people. However, as a precautionary measure it was assessing health workers and close contacts to offer vaccination where necessary.
Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal, but treating a wound immediately after being bitten may prevent death. Rabies is a deadly virus spread via the saliva of infected animals, and people usually contract it after being bitten.
The first symptoms of rabies can be similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva. Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in some countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to humans.
The case is only the seventh time this millennium that a person in the UK has been diagnosed with rabies due to exposure to infected animals. Like the current case, all previous cases were found to have started with the person becoming infected abroad. Once a person shows signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal, but treating a wound immediately after being bitten may prevent death.
Rabies is not found in wild or domestic animals within the UK and, aside from cases linked to individuals being bitten by bats which can carry a rabies-like virus, there has not been a reported case of a person becoming infected in the UK since 1902. The first symptoms can be similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva.
People may develop fears over such things as swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. The case is only the seventh time this millennium that a person in the UK has been diagnosed with rabies after exposure to an infected animal. All cases started with the person becoming infected abroad.
Dr Katherine Russell, the head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the UKHSA, offered her sympathies to the deceased’s family and advised that the best way to treat a potential rabies infection was to wash any wounds as soon as possible. In the UK rabies is not found in wild or domestic animals and, aside from cases linked to individuals being bitten by bats, which can carry a rabies-like virus, there has not been a reported case of a person becoming infected in the UK from an animal other than a bat since 1902.
“I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time,” she said. “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.” Inflected people may develop fears over such things as swallowing drinks and can experience hallucinations and paralysis.
Dr Katherine Russell, the head of emerging infections and zoonoses 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.”