Latest news with #YvonneFord
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
British woman dies from rabies after puppy scratch
A British woman has died from rabies after she was "scratched" by a puppy in Morocco, her family said. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had light contact with the stray dog while on holiday in February in the North African country. In a social media post, reported by the Press Association, Mrs Ford's family said she developed a headache two weeks ago and later couldn't "walk, talk, sleep, swallow". The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there was no risk to the wider public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. Mrs Ford was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK, the hospital trust confirmed, and was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. She died on 11 June, with an inquest into her death opened in Sheffield earlier. In the Facebook post, her daughter Robyn Thomson said the family "is still processing this unimaginable loss". "She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February," she wrote. "At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it. She continued: "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." Close contacts of Mrs Ford and health workers were being assessed and offered vaccinations when necessary as a precaution, a UKHSA spokesperson added. Rabies is a virus that causes an infection of the brain and nervous system in humans Symptoms of rabies usually take three to 12 weeks to appear - but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years Symptoms include numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched, hallucinations, feeling very anxious or energetic, difficulty swallowing or breathing and paralysis It is nearly always fatal when symptoms appear, but post-exposure treatment is "very effective" at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus The NHS website also advises people to seek medical help immediately if they have been bitten or scratched, or if they have been licked on the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound by an animal abroad Source: World Health Organization/NHS/UKHSA 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." Six cases of human rabies connected to animal exposure abroad were reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024. Rabies is particularly common in Asia and Africa, the UKHSA said, with people visiting affected countries advised to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever they can. The agency also advised people to seek advice about the need for a rabies vaccine before travel. Jane McNicholas, chief medical officer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We can confirm that we provided specialist care for a patient who had contracted rabies whilst abroad and who has now sadly died. "Our thoughts are with the family at this devastating time and out of respect for their privacy we will not be providing any further information." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. NHS
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rabies: What are the symptoms and how to get a vaccine?
A British grandmother from Yorkshire has died after contracting rabies from a puppy during a holiday in Morocco, marking the first UK death from the disease acquired overseas since 2018. Yvonne Ford was reportedly "slightly scratched" by the animal during her trip in February. But it was only over the past two weeks that her health began to deteriorate. Here PA looks at what rabies is, its symptoms and how to get a vaccine for the disease. Rabies is a deadly virus which is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. In developing countries, people can often catch the virus from stray animals and dogs. Rabies is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective if given quickly after a person has been in contact with an animal. 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. Spasms of the muscles used for swallowing make it difficult for the patient to drink and people can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. 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. There have been no human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats reported since 1902. A single case of rabies acquired from a bat was reported in 2002 in Scotland – the person had suffered several bat bites. Between 2000 and 2024, there were six cases of rabies reported in the UK linked to people being exposed abroad. In 2018, a person in the UK developed rabies following a cat bite in Morocco. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa. People are advised 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. Even if people have not sought help abroad, they should see their UK doctor if they have been bitten by an animal abroad. The NHS advises that people should get the rabies vaccine if they are travelling to a country where rabies is common. You can check the risk of rabies in the country you're visiting on the TravelHealthPro country information pages, or alternatively speak to your local GP or travel clinic. You will probably need to pay for the rabies vaccine for travel. The rabies vaccine is available from: private travel vaccination clinics pharmacies with travel health services some GP surgeries (you still have to pay if the vaccine is for travel) There are around 59,000 cases of rabies globally each year, but there have not been any cases showing human-to-human transmission.
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Watch: Pitch invader calls for ‘end of stray-dog massacre' at Club World Cup
A Peta activist broke onto Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia during Manchester City's opening Club World Cup tie to protest against the alleged mass culling of cats and dogs in Morrocco. The invader sprinted on before play could resume after Jeremy Doku scored City's second goal against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca. The man was holding a banner above his head that read 'Morocco: Stop shooting dogs and cats'. He ran towards the goal behind which the Wydad fans were congregated before being chased by stewards and security. Eventually he was tackled to the ground before being led away, but the incident will be an embarrassment to Fifa and the local authorities given the potential security risk and with next year's World Cup also being held in the United States. Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is campaigning against an apparent project that plans to eliminate around three million stray dogs in Morocco to keep the streets clean ahead of co-hosting the World Cup in 2030, along with Spain and Portugal. It is claimed that the authorities are using public health and the fear of rabies, which is a risk in Morocco, as a reason for the killing of the animals which has led to protests and lobbying. Indeed, a British mother has died of rabies after being scratched by a puppy while on holiday in Morocco. Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was 'scratched very slightly' by the puppy in February but only started displaying symptoms earlier this month, her daughter said. The government has a 'trap, neuter, vaccinate and return' policy, but have been accused of culling the dogs and cats instead.
Morocco World
5 hours ago
- Health
- Morocco World
British Woman Dies of Rabies After Slight Scratch from Puppy in Morocco
Rabat — A British woman, Yvonne Ford, has died of rabies in the UK four months after being 'very slightly' scratched by a puppy during a visit to Morocco. British media reported the news, noting that the woman died on June 11. She was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK. The 59-year-old woman was from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She came in contact with a stray dog when she was on holiday in February. Ford's family said Yvonne first developed symptoms like a headache, and later could not walk, talk, sleep, or swallow. The woman's daughter, Robyn Thomson, said Yvonne's relatives are still processing the 'unimaginable loss,' noting that they are choosing to speak up to avoid and prevent this from happening to others. '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,' her post on Facebook reads. She asked people to get vaccinated even if a minor scratch or a bite happens, as this could transmit the virus. The UK Health Security Agency said that there was no risk to the public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. The incident came amid renewed criticism in Western media, which often portrays Morocco as hostile to stray animals, while ignoring the growing national efforts to address the issue. In response to rising concerns, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit recently announced in May that the government is rolling out an ambitious national program with a budget exceeding MAD 1 billion (over $100 million), aimed at controlling the stray dog population and ensuring public safety. Morocco has been stepping up its efforts to tackle the situation, but much of the international coverage continues to overlook the initiatives being led by local communities to protect both people and animals. Tags: Stray Animalsstray dogs
Leader Live
7 hours ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Grandmother dies from rabies after ‘very slight scratch' from puppy in Morocco
Yvonne Ford's family said she only became ill two weeks ago, starting with a headache and resulting in her becoming unable to walk, talk, sleep or swallow. Ms Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died in Sheffield on June 11 aged 59, according to Sheffield Coroner's Court, where an inquest was opened and adjourned on Wednesday morning. Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed she was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital. A Facebook post which her daughter Robyn Thomson made to raise awareness 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. '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.' A person from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a dog abroad. There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case.📰🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 18, 2025 Ms Thomson shared information about rabies, including that it is preventable through prompt medical care after exposure. She 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.' The UK Health Security Agency (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. If you're travelling to a country where rabies is present, it's worth knowing how to reduce your risk – read our blog post for more info.🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 18, 2025 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.
