British Woman Dies of Rabies After Puppy Scratch on Moroccan Holiday

A British woman has tragically died of rabies in South Yorkshire after being scratched by a stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco, despite thinking the incident was too minor to cause harm. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, passed away earlier this week, with her family confirming she had contracted the deadly virus in February but showed no symptoms until recently.

Yvonne had been on a holiday in Morocco when a stray puppy scratched her lightly. Assuming it was harmless, she did not seek medical attention upon returning home. But just weeks ago, she began suffering from headaches and confusion, followed by rapid neurological decline. Within days, she lost the ability to speak, walk, and swallow. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, said while that their family is “still processing this unimaginable loss”, they have chosen to speak up in the “hope of preventing this from happening to others.”

Rabies is a viral disease that, once symptoms appear, is almost always fatal. Though eradicated in the UK, it remains prevalent in countries like Morocco. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that this is one of only a handful of rabies cases in the UK in the past two decades – all contracted overseas. Officials have reassured the public that there is no risk of onward transmission, but precautionary vaccinations are being offered to those who had close contact with the patient.

Health experts stress that rabies is entirely preventable if treated promptly. Dr Katherine Russell of the UKHSA urged travellers to seek immediate medical advice if bitten or scratched by animals abroad, no matter how minor it may seem. “Thoroughly washing the wound and getting post-exposure prophylaxis can save your life,” she said.

Yvonne’s family has shared her story to raise awareness and prevent further tragedies. “Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.” said Robyn in her Facebook post.