Latest news with #RobynThomson
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
British mother who died of rabies from puppy scratch on holiday had 'horrendous' death, daughter reveals
The daughter of a British woman who died of rabies after she was scratched by a puppy on holiday has spoken of her mother's 'horrendous' death. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was scratched on the leg by a small stray puppy lying under her sunbed while on holiday in Morocco with her husband in February - but thought nothing of it at the time. Many months later, the grandmother-of-four started suffering from a 'horrendous' headache and was admitted to Barnsley Hospital. Within days, she could not walk, talk, sleep or swallow. She started hallucinating, and developed a fear of water. Yvonne was transferred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where she was eventually diagnosed with the rare but devastating virus. She died on June 11. Her daughter Robyn Thomson, 32, has spoken of how the deathly disease that stole her mother. Neonatal nurse Robyn said: '[Mum] was the most loving person imaginable. She had the biggest heart. 'She was my best friend and the most fantastic grandparent to mine and my brother's children. 'She was a huge animal lover so for her to have died of rabies - it is just particularly horrendous. 'She will be missed so dearly.' Robyn said her mother's death was a huge shock to the whole family - especially as it took so long for her to develop symptoms. She was scratched in February - and died four months later. She said: 'She and dad were on a holiday in Morocco and they were on a private beach next to the hotel. 'There was a puppy underneath mum's sunbed and it scratched her leg. 'There was no blood and no evidence of the dog being unwell. It was such a mild scratch and it never got infected so we just thought nothing of it at the time. 'Mum came home and everything was normal. We went to Florida as a family and she went fishing with my dad. 'But in June she came down with this horrendous headache. She was in a lot of pain so went to hospital. The family later found out that it normally takes a few months for rabies symptoms to show - but the deadly disease can incubate for up to two years 'Soon, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't walk, she couldn't talk. She was hallucinating and had a fear of water. 'She couldn't swallow. She was choking on her own saliva. So doctors put her in an induced coma. 'It wasn't until over a week later that she was diagnosed with rabies. 'There's only one outcome for rabies once symptoms develop and it's death every time. So we had to turn off her life support.' The family later found out that it normally takes a few months for rabies symptoms to show - but the deadly disease can incubate for up to two years. Now, Robyn wants to spread awareness for rabies - and help stop it at the source via a charity mission in Cambodia. The mother-of-two has launched a GoFundMe and is appealing for help from the public. She said: 'This is something I need to do. If I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through the pain we have experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive. 'I'm determined to transform my grief into action - helping vaccinate dogs, support surveillance efforts, and deliver life-saving lessons in schools.'
Telegraph
27-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘One tiny scratch from rabid puppy killed mum'
The daughter of a British woman who died of rabies after she was scratched by a puppy on holiday in Morocco has revealed the 'horrendous' symptoms she suffered. Yvonne Ford went months without realising she had been infected by a puppy that was underneath her sunbed in February, said her daughter Robyn Thomson, 32. Ms Ford, 59, from Barnsley, started suffering from a 'horrendous' headache and was admitted to hospital four months later. Within days, she could not walk, talk, sleep or swallow. She started hallucinating and developed a fear of water, classic symptoms of rabies. The grandmother of four was transferred from Barnsley to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where she was eventually diagnosed with rabies. She died on June 11. Her daughter, a neonatal nurse, said: 'There was no blood and no evidence of the dog being unwell. 'It was such a mild scratch and it never got infected so we just thought nothing of it at the time. Mum came home and everything was normal. We went to Florida as a family and she went fishing with my dad.' In June, the symptoms began and she 'came down with this horrendous headache'. She added: 'Soon, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't walk, she couldn't talk. She was hallucinating and had a fear of water. 'She couldn't swallow. She was choking on her own saliva. So doctors put her in an induced coma.' The UK Health Security Agency has warned that holidaymakers should exercise caution around animals in countries where the disease is present. Egypt, Turkey and Albania are among the destinations that the Government has ascribed as 'high risk'. It advises that all visitors to rabies-affected countries 'should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel'. Costa Rica, Bali, Mexico, Vietnam and South Africa are also rated 'high risk'. It took a week for Ms Ford to be diagnosed. 'There's only one outcome for rabies once symptoms develop and it's death every time. So we had to turn off her life support,' said her daughter. Ms Ford's family later found out that it normally takes a few months for rabies symptoms to show – but the disease can incubate for up to two years. She added: 'Mum was the most loving person imaginable. She was a huge animal lover so for her to have died of rabies, it is just particularly horrendous.' Now, Ms Thomson wants to spread awareness and help stop it at the source via a charity mission in Cambodia. She is flying out to the south-east Asian country this October to volunteer with Mission Rabies – an award-winning charity that leads mass dog vaccination campaigns, rabies surveillance and vital community education across Asia and Africa. Their goal is to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population to achieve herd immunity and stop rabies at its source, while also educating children on how to recognise rabid animals and stay safe. To volunteer with Rabies Mission, Ms Thomson needs to raise money to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and project fees. She said: 'This is something I need to do. If I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through the pain we have experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive. 'I'm determined to transform my grief into action – helping vaccinate dogs, support surveillance efforts and deliver life-saving lessons in schools.'
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Extremely rare virus that causes RABIES found in bat in UK garden after mum died from disease caught petting dog abroad
See the rabies hot spots in our map below VIRAL THREAT Extremely rare virus that causes RABIES found in bat in UK garden after mum died from disease caught petting dog abroad THE virus that causes rabies has been found in a bat in a back garden in Britain. The rodent was found in Shorwell on the Isle of Wight and tested tested positive for European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1), an extremely rare virus known to cause the deadly disease in humans. Advertisement 7 The virus that causes rabies was found in the bat Credit: Alamy 7 The animal was collected by volunteers the following day Credit: Alamy 7 Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died after falling ill with rabies Credit: Facebook It comes just days after a grandmother tragically died from rabies following a scratch from a stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco. Meanwhile, the resident who discovered the injured bat used gloves to place it in a shoe box and kept it safely overnight before calling the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital. The animal was collected by volunteers the following day, and Government officials later confirmed it had tested positive for EBLV-1. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was humanely put down to prevent any risk of transmission. Advertisement The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated the incident but found no evidence of bites or scratches to humans or other animals. Although EBLV-1 can cause rabies, it is different from the rabies virus most commonly associated with dogs, which causes the majority of cases worldwide. Both EBLV-1 and a similar strain, EBLV-2, are extremely rare and have only been found in a small number of bats in the UK. Experts say the discovery does not change the UK's rabies-free health status, and other mammals are not considered to be at risk. Advertisement It comes after Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died after unknowingly contracting rabies while abroad earlier this month. She was scratched by a puppy during a trip to Morocco in February but did not believe it was serious at the time. Video of mum dancing on holiday before she died Two weeks before her death, she fell ill with a headache which quickly progressed. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, revealed that Yvonne lost her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow before she died. Advertisement Speaking out to raise awareness, Robyn said: '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.' She added: '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.' The Bat Conservation Trust explained that the two known strains of lyssavirus found in British bats have only been recorded in 59 of more than 19,000 bats tested since 1986. Advertisement Only two species—the serotine and Daubenton's bat—have tested positive. EBLV-1 has been detected in serotine bats since 2018, with the first case confirmed in Dorset. Rabies is passed through bites and scratches, or if infected saliva enters a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. The NHS says rabies symptoms include Numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched Seeing things that are not there (hallucinations) Feeling very anxious or energetic Difficulty swallowing or breathing Being unable to move (paralysis) Symptoms may take weeks or months to appear, but once they do, the disease is almost always fatal. Advertisement Signs include confusion, hallucinations, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, and numbness around the affected area. Alex Morss, from the Bat Conservation Trust, urged anyone who has been licked, scratched, or bitten by a bat to call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 and seek immediate medical advice. He said: 'There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts.' Advertisement Bats in the UK are protected by law and should only be handled by trained and licensed individuals. If a bat is injured or in need of rescue, gloves and a face covering should always be worn. The NHS offers a rabies vaccine, which is 100 per cent effective if given promptly after exposure. In some cases, a treatment called immunoglobulin may be administered directly into the wound. Advertisement Dr Katherine Russell from the UK Health Security Agency said: 'If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek medical help without delay.' She added: '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.' Yvonne's family have since shared tributes and videos of her dancing with her grandchildren just weeks before her sudden decline. Advertisement They hope her story will raise awareness and remind holidaymakers to take animal bites or scratches seriously, especially in countries where rabies is a known threat. What rabies does to the body and how it's treated The infection is common worldwide but is predominantly found in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. 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 describes two main manifestations of the disease: furious rabies and paralytic rabies. 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 Rabies is passed through bites and scratches, or if infected saliva enters a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne's family have since shared tributes and videos of her dancing with her grandchildren just weeks before her sudden decline Credit: Facebook 7 Two weeks before her death, she fell ill with a headache which quickly progressed Credit: Facebook Advertisement
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Extremely rare virus that causes RABIES found in bat in UK garden after mum died from disease caught petting dog abroad
THE virus that causes rabies has been found in a bat in a back garden in Britain. The rodent was found in Shorwell on the Isle of Wight and tested tested positive for European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1), an extremely rare virus known to cause the deadly disease in humans. 7 The virus that causes rabies was found in the bat Credit: Alamy 7 The animal was collected by volunteers the following day Credit: Alamy 7 Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died after falling ill with rabies Credit: Facebook It comes just days after a grandmother Meanwhile, the resident who discovered the injured bat used gloves to place it in a shoe box and kept it safely overnight before calling the The animal was collected by volunteers the following day, and Government officials later confirmed it had tested positive for EBLV-1. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was humanely put down to prevent any risk of transmission. Read more on Health The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated the incident but found no evidence of bites or scratches to humans or other animals. Although EBLV-1 can cause rabies, it is different from the rabies virus most commonly associated with dogs, which causes the majority of cases worldwide. Both EBLV-1 and a similar strain, EBLV-2, are extremely rare and have only been found in a small number of bats in the UK. Experts say the discovery does not change the UK's rabies-free health status, and other mammals are not considered to be at risk. Most read in Health It comes after Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died after unknowingly contracting rabies while abroad earlier this month. She was scratched by a puppy during a trip to Morocco in February but did not believe it was serious at the time. Video of mum dancing on holiday before she died Two weeks before her death, she fell ill with a headache which quickly progressed. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, revealed that Yvonne lost her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow before she died. Speaking out to raise awareness, Robyn said: '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.' She added: '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.' The Bat Conservation Trust explained that the two known strains of lyssavirus found in British bats have only been recorded in 59 of more than 19,000 bats tested since 1986. Only two species—the serotine and Daubenton's bat—have tested positive. EBLV-1 has been detected in serotine bats since 2018, with the first case confirmed in Dorset. Rabies is passed through bites and scratches, or if infected saliva enters a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. The NHS says rabies symptoms include Numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched Seeing things that are not there (hallucinations) Feeling very anxious or energetic Difficulty swallowing or breathing Being unable to move (paralysis) Symptoms may take weeks or months to appear, but once they do, the disease is almost always fatal. Signs include confusion, hallucinations, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, and numbness around the affected area. Alex Morss, from the Bat Conservation Trust, urged anyone who has been licked, scratched, or bitten by a bat to call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 and seek immediate medical advice. He said: 'There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts.' Bats in the UK are protected by law and should only be handled by trained and licensed individuals. If a bat is injured or in need of rescue, gloves and a face covering should always be worn. The NHS offers a rabies vaccine, which is 100 per cent effective if given promptly after exposure. In some cases, a treatment called immunoglobulin may be administered directly into the wound. Dr Katherine Russell from the UK Health Security Agency said: 'If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek medical help without delay.' She added: '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.' Yvonne's family have since shared tributes and videos of her dancing with her grandchildren just weeks before her sudden decline. They hope her story will raise awareness and remind holidaymakers to take animal bites or scratches seriously, especially in countries where rabies is a known threat. 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 Rabies is passed through bites and scratches, or if infected saliva enters a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne's family have since shared tributes and videos of her dancing with her grandchildren just weeks before her sudden decline Credit: Facebook 7 Two weeks before her death, she fell ill with a headache which quickly progressed Credit: Facebook 7 Yvonne Fords family hope her story will raise awareness and remind holidaymakers to take animal bites or scratches seriously, especially in countries where rabies is a known threat Credit: Facebook
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartbroken family of British mother killed by rabies share poignant video of her dancing before she was struck down by virus she caught from stray dog in Morocco in February
The heartbroken family of a British mother who died after contracting rabies from a stray puppy during a holiday to Morocco has shared a poignant video of her before she was struck down by the disease. Grandmother Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, became ill two weeks ago and steadily deteriorated until her death this week, after suffering a minor scratch from a puppy in February. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, 32, a neo-natal nurse, paid tribute to her mother - known as 'Bon' - in a moving post, and urged others to treat even the tiniest scratch with caution. She also shared a video of her mother dancing taken less than two weeks before her death. Ms Ford appears healthy, energetic and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself - jumping around and punching her hands in the air. There is no sign that she is remotely ill - but days later she would be admitted to hospital, diagnosed with rabies and ultimately pass away. Rabies - which is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal - is nearly always fatal. It typically takes between three and 12 weeks for symptoms to show but can also take longer in some cases. Friends and family members were shocked to see the clip, with one describing it as 'unreal'. In the video, Ms Ford appears healthy, energetic and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself - jumping around and punching her hands in the air Another said: 'Lovely to see her enjoying herself on this video. Memories to cherish forever - I still cannot believe it.' After her mother's death, Ms Thomson wrote on Facebook: '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. 'Yvonne Ford, Ron Ford's wife and our Mum, died of rabies. 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. '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.' Ms Thomson added: 'We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love. Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you. '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. Rest peacefully, Bon. You'll always be with us.' It is understood Ms Ford was diagnosed with the disease at Barnsley Hospital. An inquest into her death opened yesterday morning at 9am at Sheffield Coroners' Court, which her daughter attended. It has since been adjourned. At court Ms Thomson declined to comment but said she was having a 'horrendous day'. There have been less than 10 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK since 2000. However, the UKHSA yesterday stressed there was 'no risk to the wider public' given there is 'no documented evidence of rabies passing between people'. Ms Ford's family described her as 'strong, loving, and endlessly supportive' and said they had lost the 'heart of our family' Ms Ford's family paid tribute to her in emotional Facebook posts this week and urged others to take even the smallest grazes seriously The UK has been rabies-free since 1922, when the last indigenous non-fatal case was recorded, with the exception of rabies-like viruses in some wild bat species. The last death caused by rabies in a UK animal - other than bats - was in 1902. Dog licensing, euthanasia of stray dog and quarantining were credited with killing off the virus. Western Europe is now considered low risk for the disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO), while countries in Eastern Europe are listed as 'moderate risk' and African and Middle Eastern countries are 'high risk'. Popular tourist destinations such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey all carry a high risk of dogs transmitting rabies to people. 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.' 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. However, it is possible to save a patient who has contracted rabies if they can begin treatment before the virus enters their immune system. The course of treatment for rabies is four doses of the vaccination for rabies and human rabies immunoglobulin (antibodies) applied over a 21-day period. According to the UKHSA, people should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if they've been bitten or scratched by an animal while abroad in a country with rabies. They should also follow the same advice if an animal has licked their eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound they have. British bats have also been known to carry rabies. However, as people can only catch rabies by manually handling bats directly, the risk to the public is considered to be low. But people who have been bitten or scratched by a bat in Britain are still advised to contact their GP urgently or call the NHS on 111 due to the potential risk. The last recorded rabies death in the UK was in 2018, when Omar Zouhri, a 58-year-old kebab shop worker, was bitten by a cat while visiting family in Mehdya, Morocco. The same rabid cat is believed to have also bitten a young girl in the area, but she was treated locally for the nip and made a full recovery. An inquest in Oxford heard that Mr Zouhri had contracted rabies on August 31 2018, but it was not until as late as October 28 that 'the die was cast' when he started to report symptoms of 'furious rabies'. This included itching, pain and muscle twitches—which showed the virus had already entered his central nervous system, rendering treatment ineffective. Mr Zouhri, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, died in hospital in Oxford on November 4, 2018. Rabies: Death from a scratch Rabies is a viral infection which targets the nervous system and the brain. It is deadly in 100 percent of cases left untreated - and has an incubation period of 20 to 60 days. It is only spread by infected animals to humans, most often through the animal biting or scratching the person. It can also be spread by an animal's saliva being in contact with a graze or cut on a human's skin. The majority of rabies cases result from being bitten by an infected dog. The symptoms of the illness include high temperatures, numbness at the area where the bite occurred and hallucinations. Some victims also have hydrophobia, which is a fear of water. There are about 55,000 cases of rabies worldwide each year with over 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. Half of all rabies cases occur in India. Rabies is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects poor and vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations. Approximately 80% of human cases occur in rural areas, and although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, they are not readily available or accessible to those in need. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children between the ages of 5–14 years are frequent victims. Every year, more than 29 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination. This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually.
