A 59-year-old British woman named Yvonne Ford has died from rabies after being scratched by a puppy during her vacation in Morocco.
Ford, a resident of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, had a minor interaction with a stray dog while visiting Morocco last February, but initially did not consider the scratch to be dangerous and did not take any preventive measures. However, symptoms began to appear weeks later, as she experienced severe headaches that gradually worsened, leading to a loss of her ability to walk, speak, sleep, and swallow.
After returning to the United Kingdom, she was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital and was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where she passed away on June 11. An official investigation has been launched to determine the cause of her death.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that there is no risk to public health as there is no evidence of rabies transmission from person to person. Nevertheless, precautionary measures have been taken for those who had direct contact with Ford, including assessing their conditions and providing vaccinations as necessary.
Her daughter, Robin Thompson, expressed her deep sorrow in a social media post, stating that the family is still trying to come to terms with this “unimaginable loss.” She noted that her mother did not believe such a minor scratch could lead to the tragic outcome, serving as a warning for everyone.
