Tragic Rabies Death of British Woman Following Puppy Scratch in Morocco Sparks Awareness Campaign
2025-06-21T01:04:13Z
A heart-wrenching incident has emerged from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where a 59-year-old woman tragically succumbed to rabies after suffering a minor scratch from a puppy during her holiday in Morocco. This report, which was initially brought to light by the BBC, underscores the critical need for awareness regarding animal bites and the essential nature of prompt medical attention.
The woman, Yvonne Ford, had been enjoying her vacation in February when she encountered a stray puppy. According to her daughter, Robyn Thomson, the scratch seemed minor at the time, leading them to believe that there was no cause for alarm. However, this seemingly innocuous encounter would have fatal consequences.
“She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February,” Thomson conveyed in an emotional post on Facebook. “At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it.” Unfortunately, Ford began to show symptoms of the disease just two weeks prior to her passing, initiating with a headache that quickly escalated into a serious condition. “She became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow. Resulting in her passing,” her daughter added, reflecting on the dramatic and heartbreaking decline of her mother’s health.
Upon returning to the UK, Ford was initially treated at Barnsley Hospital but was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. It was there that the dire diagnosis of rabies was confirmed. Tragically, Yvonne Ford passed away on June 11, and an inquest into her untimely death has been opened in Sheffield to investigate the circumstances surrounding her case.
In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reassured the public that there is no risk to wider community health, highlighting that rabies is not transmitted from person to person. The news of Ford’s death has left her family in profound shock. “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love,” Thomson lamented. In her post, she urged the public to take animal bites seriously, advocate for pet vaccinations, and raise awareness within their communities about the potential dangers associated with animal encounters.
Angela Thompson
Source of the news: Hindustan Times