Rabies death in Yorkshire after contact with stray dog in Morocco
A person in Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there is no risk to the wider public, but health workers and close contacts are being assessed as a precaution and offered vaccination where necessary.
Rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. It is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective at preventing disease if given promptly.
The last Briton to die after contracting rabies was in 2018, also after a trip to Morocco. That UK resident was infected following a cat bite.
The latest victim was a woman who was diagnosed at Barnsley hospital, according to the Barnsley Chronicle . Hers was the seventh case in the UK of human rabies contracted from an animal abroad since 2000.
The UKHSA reminded travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies-affected countries. The disease remains common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa
Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the UKHSA, 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.'
Even those who have previously been vaccinated should seek local medical advice immediately, the UKHSA added. When given promptly, post-exposure treatment is extremely effective at preventing the disease.
The UKHSA also encourages travellers to also consult their doctor on return, so that the course of rabies treatment can be completed. If travellers have not sought medical advice abroad, they should contact their doctor promptly upon return for assessment.
Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.
• Teacher dies after being bitten by rabid bat
Russell said: 'There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.'
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