British Woman Dies from Rabies After Puppy Scratch in Morocco Holiday Tragedy

Originally from Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, Yvonne Ford had a slight contact with this animal during her vacation in Morocco last February. The 59-year-old British woman died on June 11, after suffering from a headache two weeks ago and being unable to "walk, talk, sleep, swallow," her family informs in a social media post.

"She was slightly scratched by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think it would have consequences and did not pay much attention to it. Two weeks ago, she fell ill, it started with a headache and resulted in a loss of her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. This led to her death," explains Robyn Thomson, the victim’s daughter, in a Facebook post.

The fifty-year-old was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the United Kingdom, before being transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, which confirmed that she was suffering from rabies. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reassures that there is no risk of contamination, as the transmission of rabies between humans is not scientifically proven.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of human rabies cases are transmitted by dogs. Its symptoms (hallucinations, extreme agitation, difficulty swallowing or breathing, paralysis, etc.) usually appear between three and twelve weeks after contact with an infected animal, but can also manifest after months.