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Editor, Senior Moderator
Woman dies of rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco
Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, had contact with stray animal while on holiday, UK Health Security Agency says
Raphael Boyd
Wed 18 Jun 2025 11.04 EDT
A woman from Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, was diagnosed in Yorkshire and Humber after returning from the north African country in February.
In a Facebook post, Ford’s daughter Robyn Thomson said her mother had become infected after being “scratched very slightly by a puppy”.
“At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it,” Thomson wrote. “Two weeks ago, she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow.”
Thomson, who said her mother died soon afterwards, warned people about the dangers of rabies. “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love,” she wrote. “Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.”
...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...n-yorkshire-after-contact-with-dog-in-morocco
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Rabies case confirmed following contact with animal abroad
UKHSA is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries.
From: UK Health Security Agency
Published 18 June 2025
Last updated 18 June 2025 — See all updates
An individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. The individual was diagnosed in Yorkshire and the Humber.
There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. However, as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.
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.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries due to the risk of catching the disease.
Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, at UKHSA, said:
Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.
Between 2000 and 2024 there were 6 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK.
Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. All travellers 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.
You should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if:
When given promptly after an exposure, a course of rabies post-exposure treatment is extremely effective at preventing the disease. If such an exposure occurs abroad, the traveller should also consult their doctor on return, so that the course of rabies treatment can be completed. If travellers have not sought medical advice abroad, they should contact their doctor promptly upon return for assessment.
For more information on the risk of rabies in different countries, see the country information pages on the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC’s) website, TravelHealthPro.
For more general information about rabies, see the NHS website or the UKHSA leaflet on rabies risks for travellers.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rabies-case-confirmed-following-contact-with-animal-abroad
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How to avoid rabies and what to do if you’re exposed while travelling
Posted by: Blog Editor, Posted on: 18 June 2025 -
Categories: Protecting the country's health, Travel
Rabies is a rare but deadly viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK but the infection poses a risk to travellers visiting regions where the disease remains prevalent.
It is typically transmitted via the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Dogs are the most common carriers, but it can be found in cats, bats, monkeys and other mammals. There are no documented cases of human-to-human transmission of rabies. Once symptoms develop in an infected person after they have been exposed, it is almost always fatal.
Preparing for travel abroad
If you are travelling to a country with rabies, it’s important to know how to prevent the infection and what actions to take following potential exposure. There is information on the Travel Health Pro website about which countries are affected by rabies and when you should consider a rabies vaccine before travel.
Recognising symptoms
Rabies symptoms typically appear within 3 to 12 weeks after exposure (commonly animal bites or scratches), though this timeline can vary. Early signs may be non-specific and include fever, headache, and discomfort at the bite site.
As the infection progresses, more serious symptoms develop, including confusion, muscle spasms, and difficulty swallowing.
Preventing rabies while travelling
Prevention is crucial when visiting countries where rabies is endemic, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Travellers should consider these preventive measures:
If you are bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal in a rabies-endemic country, take these immediate steps:
Vaccine effectiveness
A full course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines will provide good protection from rabies for most people. People who completed their full course of rabies pre-exposure vaccine over a year ago and are travelling again to a high risk area for rabies can have a single booster dose.
However, it is still important to seek medical advice if you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin by an animal overseas. If you had a full course of pre-exposure vaccines before travel, even years beforehand, you will only need two additional rabies vaccine doses after an exposure and will not need immunoglobulin.
Once symptoms develop, there is no effective treatment, and the disease is usually fatal, so getting medical attention as fast as you can is really important.
Rabies in the UK
The UK has been free from rabies in animals other than bats since 1902, making domestic infection extremely rare.
Some UK bat species can carry European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLVs), rabies-like viruses that caused the death of a professional bat handler who sustained several bites in Scotland in 2002. Most human rabies cases reported in the UK are acquired abroad, with 6 such cases recorded between 2000 and 2024.
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/1...what-to-do-if-youre-exposed-while-travelling/
Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, had contact with stray animal while on holiday, UK Health Security Agency says
Raphael Boyd
Wed 18 Jun 2025 11.04 EDT
A woman from Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, was diagnosed in Yorkshire and Humber after returning from the north African country in February.
In a Facebook post, Ford’s daughter Robyn Thomson said her mother had become infected after being “scratched very slightly by a puppy”.
“At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it,” Thomson wrote. “Two weeks ago, she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow.”
Thomson, who said her mother died soon afterwards, warned people about the dangers of rabies. “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love,” she wrote. “Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you.”
...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...n-yorkshire-after-contact-with-dog-in-morocco
---------------------------------------------
Rabies case confirmed following contact with animal abroad
UKHSA is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries.
From: UK Health Security Agency
Published 18 June 2025
Last updated 18 June 2025 — See all updates
An individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. The individual was diagnosed in Yorkshire and the Humber.
There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. However, as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.
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.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries due to the risk of catching the disease.
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.
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.
Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.
Between 2000 and 2024 there were 6 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK.
Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. All travellers 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.
You should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if:
- you’ve been bitten or scratched by an animal while you’re abroad in a country with rabies
- an animal has licked your eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound you have, while you’re abroad in a country with rabies
- you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK
When given promptly after an exposure, a course of rabies post-exposure treatment is extremely effective at preventing the disease. If such an exposure occurs abroad, the traveller should also consult their doctor on return, so that the course of rabies treatment can be completed. If travellers have not sought medical advice abroad, they should contact their doctor promptly upon return for assessment.
For more information on the risk of rabies in different countries, see the country information pages on the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC’s) website, TravelHealthPro.
For more general information about rabies, see the NHS website or the UKHSA leaflet on rabies risks for travellers.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rabies-case-confirmed-following-contact-with-animal-abroad
---------------------------------------------------------------------
How to avoid rabies and what to do if you’re exposed while travelling
Posted by: Blog Editor, Posted on: 18 June 2025 -
Categories: Protecting the country's health, Travel
Rabies is a rare but deadly viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK but the infection poses a risk to travellers visiting regions where the disease remains prevalent.
It is typically transmitted via the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Dogs are the most common carriers, but it can be found in cats, bats, monkeys and other mammals. There are no documented cases of human-to-human transmission of rabies. Once symptoms develop in an infected person after they have been exposed, it is almost always fatal.
Preparing for travel abroad
If you are travelling to a country with rabies, it’s important to know how to prevent the infection and what actions to take following potential exposure. There is information on the Travel Health Pro website about which countries are affected by rabies and when you should consider a rabies vaccine before travel.
Recognising symptoms
Rabies symptoms typically appear within 3 to 12 weeks after exposure (commonly animal bites or scratches), though this timeline can vary. Early signs may be non-specific and include fever, headache, and discomfort at the bite site.
As the infection progresses, more serious symptoms develop, including confusion, muscle spasms, and difficulty swallowing.
Preventing rabies while travelling
Prevention is crucial when visiting countries where rabies is endemic, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Travellers should consider these preventive measures:
- Consult a travel health professional before your trip to determine if pre-exposure vaccination is recommended based on your destination and planned activities.
- Vaccination is particularly important if you'll be staying for over a month, engaging in outdoor activities, or travelling to areas with limited access to medical care.
- The rabies vaccine is given as an injection. You usually have 3 doses given over 28 days, so it’s important to plan ahead to allow you to receive all-3 doses before you travel.
- While abroad, avoid contact with animals as much as possible, including dogs, cats, and other wildlife, to reduce your risk of exposure. Remember that infected animals may not always display obvious symptoms of disease. It’s important to tell children to avoid touching animals and if they do, to let you know about any bites or scratches straight away.
If you are bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal in a rabies-endemic country, take these immediate steps:
- Thoroughly wash the wound with plenty of soap and water for several minutes. This simple measure can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
- Seek local medical attention without delay - even if you've been vaccinated. Don’t wait until you return to the UK. Post-exposure treatment is highly effective when administered promptly, before symptoms develop.
- Contact your GP on return to the UK, even if you received post exposure treatment abroad or the exposure happened several weeks ago. You may need to continue a course of rabies vaccines. If you have a record of any treatment given, remember to bring this with you. Your GP will also be able to arrange for post exposure treatment if this hasn’t been started while you were abroad but is considered necessary by UKHSA.
Vaccine effectiveness
A full course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines will provide good protection from rabies for most people. People who completed their full course of rabies pre-exposure vaccine over a year ago and are travelling again to a high risk area for rabies can have a single booster dose.
However, it is still important to seek medical advice if you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin by an animal overseas. If you had a full course of pre-exposure vaccines before travel, even years beforehand, you will only need two additional rabies vaccine doses after an exposure and will not need immunoglobulin.
Once symptoms develop, there is no effective treatment, and the disease is usually fatal, so getting medical attention as fast as you can is really important.
Rabies in the UK
The UK has been free from rabies in animals other than bats since 1902, making domestic infection extremely rare.
Some UK bat species can carry European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLVs), rabies-like viruses that caused the death of a professional bat handler who sustained several bites in Scotland in 2002. Most human rabies cases reported in the UK are acquired abroad, with 6 such cases recorded between 2000 and 2024.
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/1...what-to-do-if-youre-exposed-while-travelling/