A British woman has died after contracting rabies from what her family described as a minor scratch by a stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco.
Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, had been visiting the North African country in February when she had the brief contact with the dog. At the time, she thought little of it.
But months later, her health took a sudden and devastating turn.
In a heartfelt post shared on social media, her daughter, Robyn Thomson, said the family is struggling to come to terms with the loss, describing the situation as ‘unimaginable.’
Robyn wrote: ‘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.
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‘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.’
She added: ‘What You Should Know About Rabies: Rabies is always fatal once symptoms appear; It is preventable through prompt medical care after exposure; Even a minor scratch or bite from an infected animal – wild or domestic – can transmit the virus; If you are ever bitten or scratched, seek medical attention immediately; Post-exposure prophylaxis vacines can save your life.
‘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.’
Paying tribute earlier this week, Robyn said Yvonne, affectionately named Bon, was the ‘heart of our family’.
She said: ‘It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of (the death of) our wife of Ron Ford, Mum and Bon.
‘She was the heart of our family – strong, loving, and endlessly supportive. No words can fully capture the depth of our loss or the impact she had on all of us.
‘We are heartbroken, but also grateful for every moment we had with her. Rest peacefully, Bon. You’ll always be with us.’
Ford was initially treated at Barnsley Hospital and later transferred to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where she died on June 11. An inquest into her death was opened in Sheffield this week.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, though it is preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed there is no wider public health threat, stressing that human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been recorded.
As a precaution, those who had close contact with Mrs. Ford – including healthcare workers – are being offered vaccinations where necessary, a UKHSA spokesperson said.
