Where you're most likely to be infected with deadly disease after Brit dies
As the rare rabies virus that spreads to people from the saliva of infected animals claims the life of a UK woman, we take a look at where the disease can be found across the globe
A Briton has died from rabies after being bitten by a stray dog in Morocco and travellers are now being warned by the UK Health Security Agency, known as the UKHSA, to be careful around animals when travelling to countries where the infection is prevalent. The deadly condition is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal, with exposure treatment very effective if it is given promptly.The woman who died was diagnosed in Yorkshire and The Humber, with health workers and close contacts being assessed and offered vaccination as a precautionary measure. Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the UKHSA, offered reassuring words for anyone worried about infection.
"There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case," said the expert. "Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human to human transmission."
READ MORE: Brit woman dies from rabies after contact with stray dog on Morocco holiday
Thousands of people do die each year from rabies, mainly in Asia and Africa, which makes up for 95 per cent of the human deaths around the world. Tragically, 40 per cent of fatalities involve children.Contributing factors to the prevalence of rabies in the two continents include inadequate vaccination programmes, a lack of access to healthcare due to poverty and high numbers of stray dogs. We take a closer look at the global spread...
Asia
Rabies is particularly prevalent in South Asia, with high incidence rates in countries including India, which is a significant global contributor to rabies deaths, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Africa
Many African nations also experience high rates of rabies, particularly in rural areas. East and West Africa are considered high-risk, particularly for canine rabies. Countries like Ethiopia, Burundi, and Rwanda are countries specifically identified as rabies hotspots.
Other areas
While rabies is less common in Europe and North America, it still exists in certain wildlife populations. In the Americas, bats are the primary vectors of the disease while in Eastern Europe, there are sporadic cases involving red foxes.Rabies does not circulate in wild or domestic animals in the UK but some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. There were six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported over here between 2000 and 2024.The World Health Organization says travellers visiting areas where rabies is prevalent should be aware of the risks and know what to do if they are bitten or scratched. Dr Katherine Russell advised: "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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to know about the COVID variant causing 'razor blade' sore throats
The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: 'razor blade throat' COVID. That's because the variant — NB.1.8.1. or 'Nimbus' — may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and elsewhere, according to media outlets in those countries. Other COVID-19 symptoms of any variant include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell. Experts say there isn't major cause for concern with the Nimbus variant, but here 's what else you need to know about it. Here's where the variant causing 'razor blade throat' spreading The rise in cases late last month is primarily in eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions, the World Health Organization said May 28. The new variant had reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-May. Airport screening in the United States detected the new variant in travelers arriving from those regions to destinations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York. You aren't likely to get sicker from this variant than others Not so far, anyway. The WHO said some western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but there's nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Nimbus variant Yes. The WHO has designated Nimbus as a 'variant under monitoring' and considers the public health risk low at the global level. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last month that COVID-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts. ___ AP Health Writer Carla Johnson contributed to this story. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Health warnings issued as parts of UK brace for approaching heatwave
Warnings have been issued over the dangers hot temperatures can bring as parts of the UK brace for a heatwave this weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach 28C on Wednesday, rising to 31C on Thursday and Friday, before peaking at 33C on Saturday, then potentially hitting the low 30s on Sunday, the Met Office said. And yellow heat-health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for most of England which are in force until 6pm on Sunday. The alerts, which means there could be an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, cover Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London, the South East and South West. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. A number of charities have issued warnings as the hotter weather continues this week. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging people with heart conditions to take precautions to minimise potential health risks during a heatwave. Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the BHF, said: 'You can be at greater risk from the heat if you have a heart condition, as high temperatures can put extra strain on your heart. 'Elderly people and very young children have more difficulty regulating their temperature and so can be more at risk from extreme temperatures. In hot weather, check on your friends and relatives regularly to make sure they are cool and comfortable. 'The most important way you can protect your heart in the heat is to stay cool and keep hydrated.' Meanwhile, Age UK has urged people to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see if they need anything and to make sure they are not feeling overwhelmed by the excessive heat. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK charity director, said: 'The heat is expected to build during the week, becoming hottest at the weekend and as temperatures rise, those with long-term health conditions impacting their heart, lungs or kidneys can be at extra risk. 'Generally, our bodies find it harder to adapt to more extreme temperatures as we age. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke can all worsen certain conditions, increasing strain on the body, and some medications make us more susceptible to hot weather. 'At Age UK, we want older people to be able to enjoy the sunshine while taking care, so when the weather is really hot, it's a good idea to take some simple precautions such as staying out of direct sunlight and drinking lots of water to stay hydrated. It is also worth doing any daily activities, such as going for a walk, shopping, or gardening, before or after the hottest part of the day, which is 11-3pm.' And Dementia UK has issued advice and tips on how to support a loved one with dementia. These include: keeping hydrated; staying cool with appropriate clothing; keeping the person out of the heat; cooling the person down by avoiding hot drinks, alcohol and caffeine; and keeping the home environment cool. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said heat is the 'dominant story' this week and temperatures will reach heatwave levels in parts of the UK. He said: 'Saturday is expected to be the peak of this hot spell, with temperatures fairly widely reaching into the low 30 Celsius across parts of England, with high 20s likely as far north as northern and eastern Scotland. It will also be very warm at night over the weekend, with the potential for a few places to experience a 'tropical night', when temperatures do not drop below 20C.' Some thundery showers could be seen in northern and western areas on Friday and into the weekend, before fresher conditions arrive later in the weekend and into next week, resulting in temperatures falling and potentially more unsettled weather, the forecaster added.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
What's behind the global surge of new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 – and should you get vaccinated?
A new Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading across the world, with India and other countries in Asia reporting a surge in cases. In the UK, the Health Security Agency confirmed 13 cases of the variant in England in early June, while hospital admissions due to Covid have risen by almost 10 per cent. However, the true extent of the variant's spread remains uncertain, largely due to a significant reduction in Covid-19 testing compared to the peak of the global pandemic five years ago. What do we know about the variant NB.1.8.1? NB.1.8.1 stemmed from the Omicron variant and was first detected in January this year. It has quickly spread across China and Hong Kong, and has now been recorded in several states across the United States and Australia. By late April, NB.1.8.1 comprised about 10.7 per cent of submitted sequences globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This rose from just 2.5 per cent a month before. The WHO declared the NB.1.8.1 strain a 'variant under monitoring' on 23 May, which means scientists believe it could potentially affect the behaviour of the virus. Why has there been a surge in new cases? Lara Herrero, a virologist from Griffith University in Australia, suspects that NB.1.8.1 spreads more easily than other variants. 'Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested, suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains,' Dr Herrero wrote last month in The Conversation. Dr Chun Tang, GP at UK private healthcare centre Pall Mall Medical, said: 'NB.1.8.1 isn't too different from the Omicron variant, but it does have some tweaks to its spike protein, which might make it spread a bit more easily or slip past some of our existing immunity. 'That said, early signs suggest it doesn't seem to cause more serious illness, but of course, we're still learning more about it.' 'Its spread has been identified in around 22 countries,' said Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. 'The WHO assesses the additional risk to the global public as currently low, and existing Covid-19 vaccines are considered effective in preventing severe disease.' However, the 'Nimbus' variant, as it has been dubbed, does appear to be more transmissible than previous strains, with notable increases reported in India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, notes Dr Asif. What are the symptoms? Common symptoms of Nimbus include a severe sore throat, fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches and congestion. It has also been reported that some patients have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. Healthcare experts have stressed, however, that there is no evidence that the new strain is more deadly or serious than previous variants, and that current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective and protect anyone infected from severe illness. Should you get vaccinated? In the UK, the NHS advises that Covid vaccinations are currently unavailable to the public until the early winter roll out, and only to those who need extra protection from the virus. The NHS will get in touch to offer you the Covid vaccine if you are eligible.
