Suspected Rabies Case in Spain After Tourist’s Cat Bite in Morocco

The patient claimed to have been bitten on the forearm by a cat during a trip to Morocco last August, according to Spanish media reports. While the officials of the University Hospital of Cruces have not yet confirmed the origin of the symptoms noted in the man (signs of necrosis, dying body tissues in his forearm), Osakidetza, the institution in charge of the public health system of the Basque Autonomous Community, suspects a case of rabies.

The evolution of the patient’s symptoms and his trip to Morocco, a country affected by rabies, reinforce Osakidetza’s thesis. "The condition of his arm may be due to an infection related to rabies," it is specified.

If this case is confirmed, it will not be the first time that a foreigner has fallen victim to rabies in Morocco. In November 2018, a British tourist had contracted rabies and then died after being bitten by a cat.

The Public Health England (PHE) agency had immediately reminded travelers in general and the British in particular of the importance of vaccinations before traveling abroad. It also advised them to avoid any contact with animals in countries affected by rabies.