A 59-year-old British woman, Yvonne Ford, has died from rabies after being scratched by a stray puppy in Morocco. Her family said she developed symptoms two weeks after the incident and eventually lost her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow.
Ford was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK and later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. She died on June 11. An inquest into her death has been opened.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there is no risk of rabies transmission between people, but close contacts were being assessed and offered vaccinations as a precaution. The agency advises people to seek medical help immediately if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal abroad.
Rabies is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the brain and nervous system. Symptoms can take several weeks to appear, ranging from numbness or tingling at the site of the bite to paralysis. While it’s nearly always fatal when symptoms appear, post-exposure treatment is effective if given promptly.
There have been six reported cases of human rabies connected to animal exposure abroad in the UK since 2000. The agency advises people visiting affected countries to avoid contact with animals and seek advice on vaccination before traveling.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98wyllp170o