UK Woman's Rabies Death After Dog Scratch in Morocco Revealed at Inquest
A British woman who died after contracting rabies from a dog scratch while on holiday in Morocco was only diagnosed with the disease after a psychiatrist raised fears about her symptoms, an inquest has been told.
Yvonne Ford, aged 59 and from Barnsley, passed away at Barnsley Hospital on June 11, four months after being scratched by a puppy on a beach in the north African country in February.
Initial Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment
The jury at Sheffield Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday that Ford considered the scratch a minor injury and did not seek medical attention, merely cleaning it with a wet wipe.
It was only after returning to the UK that she began to exhibit symptoms, which were initially difficult to diagnose. She was referred to the mental health facility at Barnsley Hospital, where psychiatrist Alexander Burns assessed her.
Burns told the court that hospital colleagues had struggled to identify her condition, suspecting a mental health issue due to symptoms such as extreme anxiety, hallucinations, and dizziness.
Rabies Symptoms and Diagnosis
Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through saliva, causing brain inflammation and leading to severe neurological symptoms, including fatigue, difficulty swallowing water, and central nervous system shutdown.
Burns initially thought Ford might have Lyme disease from tick bites, but after learning from her husband about the dog scratch in Morocco, he became concerned about rabies. He noted that the short stay unit caring for Ford was unaware of the scratch.
Upon researching rabies, Burns said it became clear that all of Ford's symptoms aligned with the diagnosis. She was then transferred to the infectious disease unit at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where she died days later.
Rarity and Fatality of Rabies in the UK
Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals informed the jury that there have been only 26 confirmed rabies cases in the UK since 1946.
She emphasized that rabies has a 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear, but post-exposure vaccinations can be effective if administered beforehand. Vaccinating animals has been key to eradicating the disease in the UK.
Family's Awareness Campaign
Since Ford's death, her family has worked to raise awareness about rabies globally. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, has joined the charity Mission Rabies, helping immunise dogs in countries like Cambodia and Malawi.
In a January interview with the Guardian, Thomson expressed shock at her mother's diagnosis and a desire to turn the tragedy into a positive by helping others in Ford's memory.
