Latest news with #BarnsleyChronicle
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Health
- Wales Online
British woman dies from rabies after encounter with stray dog
British woman dies from rabies after encounter with stray dog The UK Health Security Agency has warned travellers to exercise caution around animals while on holiday A British woman has died after contracting rabies from a stray dog while holidaying in Morocco. The woman, originally from Barnsley, was diagnosed in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. Medical staff and others who had close contact with her are currently being assessed and have been offered vaccinations as a precaution. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now urging travellers to be cautious around animals in countries where rabies is common due to the high risk of infection. Rabies is almost always fatal and is transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals. Although treatment following exposure can effectively prevent the illness it must be administered immediately after coming into contact with the virus. Following her contact with the stray animal in Morocco the woman returned to Britain and subsequent diagnosis took place at Barnsley Hospital, as reported by the Barnsley Chronicle. Dr Katherine Russell, who leads the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses department at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "I would like to extend my condolences to this individual's family at this time," reports the Mirror. Article continues below "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." While rabies does not circulate among wild or domestic animals in the UK certain types of bats can harbour a rabies-like virus. The UK hasn't seen any human cases of rabies contracted locally from animals besides bats since 1902. However between 2000 and 2024 six cases linked to animal exposures abroad were recorded. Rabies is notably prevalent in Asia and Africa, eliciting renewed cautions for travellers to territories affected by rabies to avoid interactions with dogs, cats, and other animals when possible and to consult on whether a rabies vaccination is advised before their journey. Should one incur an animal bite or scratch urgent action to cleanse the exposure site with soap and water is crucial. It's imperative to seek local medical guidance straightaway, even if previously vaccinated, as starting a post-exposure treatment regimen promptly after contact can robustly fend off the ailment. Once symptoms manifest rabies is virtually always fatal. Symptoms start off as anxiety, headaches, and fever and can escalate to hallucinations, respiratory failure, and swallowing difficulties due to muscular spasms. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . Article continues below The incubation period between being infected and showing symptoms is typically between three and 12 weeks but can vary from a few days to many months depending on the site of the initial infection. If an exposure occurs abroad the traveller should consult their doctor on return so the course of rabies treatment can be completed.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Health
- Sunday World
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
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
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. READ MORE 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
Rhyl Journal
9 hours ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Person dies in UK after becoming infected with rabies while on holiday
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. 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. Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the 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.' According to the UKHSA, rabies does not circulate in either 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 prior to 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 in the UK. 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.
Powys County Times
9 hours ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Person dies in UK after becoming infected with rabies while on holiday
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. 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. Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the 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.' According to the UKHSA, rabies does not circulate in either 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 prior to 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 in the UK. Anyone given post-exposure treatment should contact their doctor on return to the UK to ensure treatment continues and is effective.
