Person in UK dies after being infected with rabies while on holiday
A person in Yorkshire has died from rabies after becoming infected while on holiday in
Morocco
, the
UK
Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The person, which the Barnsley Chronicle reports is a woman from the area, had contact with a stray dog during their visit to the North African country.
The UKHSA said there is no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be passed between people. However, as a precautionary measure it is assessing health workers and close contacts to offer vaccination where necessary.
Rabies is a deadly virus spread through the saliva of infected animals, and people usually get it after being bitten by an infected animal.
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Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in developing countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.
Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal.
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.
People may develop fears around things like swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis.
Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the UKHSA, extended condolences to the person's family.
'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,' she said.
Dr Russell said human cases of rabies are 'extremely rare in the UK', while worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human to human transmission.
According to the UKHSA, rabies does not circulate in wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus.
There have been no human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats reported since 1902.
Between 2000 and 2024, there were six cases of rabies reported in the UK linked to people being exposed abroad. Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa.
Travellers are being advised by the UKHSA to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals and check whether they may need a rabies vaccine before travel.
Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an animal, or where the animal has licked eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound, should wash the site with plenty of soap and water and seek immediate medical help.
People should do the same if they have been bitten or scratched by a bat.
Anyone given post-exposure treatment should contact their doctor on return to the UK to ensure treatment continues and is effective.
Post-exposure treatment is usually in the form of a rabies vaccine jab. —Press Association
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Sunday World
9 hours ago
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Person dies in UK after becoming infected with rabies from stray dog while on holiday
The UKHSA said there is no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be passed between people A person has died in Yorkshire from rabies after becoming infected while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. The person, which the Barnsley Chronicle reports is a woman from the area who was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital, had contact with a stray dog during their visit to the North African country. The UKHSA said there is no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be passed between people. However, as a precautionary measure it is assessing health workers and close contacts to offer vaccination where necessary. Barnsley District General Hospital (Phil Noble/PA) Rabies is a deadly virus spread through the saliva of infected animals, and people usually get it after being bitten by an infected animal. Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in developing countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people. Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. 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. People may develop fears around things like swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. Conceptual image of rabies virus (Alamy/PA) News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Tragic last video of mum dancing with family just 2 weeks before she died after getting rabies from stray dog on holiday
A TRAGIC last video of a mum who died from rabies after stroking a stray dog shows her happily dancing. 7 Yvonne Ford is seen dancing in the clip Credit: Facebook 7 It was shot two weeks before she died this week Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne contracted rabies while in Morocco in February Credit: Love Island She had been suffered a mild scratch from a puppy while on holiday in Morocco in February and unknowingly contracted the potentially fatal disease. A video filmed earlier this month, shows her happily dancing with two children as music blasts out from speakers at what appears to be an outdoor family-friendly rave. Yvonne's daughter Robyn Thomson said in a Facebook post yesterday: "Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing." Her death has led to an urgent warning from the UK Health and Security Agency today. READ MORE NEWS Robyn also said: "She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. "At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it." On Sunday, Robyn shared a clip of Yvonne dancing with two children, writing "just under two weeks before we lost mum". In a tribute, she said: Most read in The Sun "Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others." In another post, she referred to her mum by the nickname "Bon" and said: "She was the heart of our family—strong, loving, and endlessly supportive. "No words can fully capture the depth of our loss or the impact she had on all of us. "We are heartbroken, but also grateful for every moment we had with her." FACTFILE - Rabies was eradicated from the UK in 1902 - It followed the first vaccine for rabies which was introduced in 1885 - Over 29 million people worldwide now receive a rabies vaccine annually - Dogs are responsible for 99 per cent of cases - Rabies still kills 59,000 people a year, almost entirely in developing countries - Victims can harbour the disease for months without showing any symptoms. - In 2004, US teenager Jeanna Giese became the first person in the world to survive rabies without receiving the vaccine - There has never been a recorded case of human-to-human transmission - Symptoms include anxiety, headaches and fever, before difficulty swallowing and respiratory failure It comes after the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed a Brit had died, and said her close contacts "are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary". A statement added: "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 after exposure to the virus." Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses at 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. "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." What rabies does to the body and how it's treated The infection is common worldwide but is predominantly found in Some of the animals that are most likely to spread the disease are dogs, bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. Symptoms After a bite or other rabies exposure, the virus can take weeks or months to start causing symptoms. This timeframe is what doctors call the incubation period in which the virus is travelling through the body and to the brain. Some of the most common symptoms of rabies include: Fever Headache Excess salivation Muscle spasms paralysis mental confusion The World Health Organization People or animals with furious rabies may appear agitated, become aggressive, and drool excessively, while other symptoms include hyperactivity, fear of water, and even fear of fresh air. The symptoms of paralytic rabies, on the other hand, are more understated—typically causing gradual paralysis as a patient remains calm and lucid. Treatment If you've been bitten or scratched by an animal in an area with a risk of rabies you should immediately clean the wound with running water and soap for several minutes. After this, you must disinfect the wound with an alcohol- or iodine-based disinfectant and apply a simple dressing. After the wound is addressed, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and they will determine if you need a rabies vaccination or not. Post-exposure treatment is nearly 100 per cent effective if it's started before any symptoms of rabies appear. Some cases will require immunoglobulin, which is administered into and around the wound. This provides short-term protection if there is a significant chance of infection in the wound. Treatment should ideally begin within a few hours of being bitten, but can be delayed up to 24 hours if needed. 7 Her death has led to an urgent warning from the UK Health and Security Agency today Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne was scratched by a puppy before contracting rabies Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne died after catching rabies in Morocco Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne with husband Ron Credit: Facebook
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