A 59-year-old British woman has died of rabies four months after being scratched «very slightly» by a puppy during a holiday in Morocco. Yvonne Ford, a grandmother from Yorkshire, came into contact with the dog in February but only began showing symptoms two weeks before her death. Ford initially developed a headache, then quickly lost the ability to walk, talk, sleep, or swallow. She died last week, according to local health authorities. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, said the family is «still processing this unimaginable loss», urging travelers to take animal scratches seriously. «Even a minor scratch or bite from an infected animal, wild or domestic, can transmit the virus. Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you», she wrote on Facebook. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there is no wider public risk. Close contacts are being monitored and offered preventive vaccines as a precaution. «What's happened is incredibly tragic», a UKHSA spokesperson said, «We want to make sure people are aware of the risks before they travel». This is not the first time a British tourist has contracted rabies while visiting Morocco. In 2018, another holidaymaker died after being bitten by a cat during their stay in the country. Rabies, which is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, is transmitted through bites, scratches, or licks from infected animals. It is preventable through prompt post-exposure treatment. The World Health Organization estimates that rabies kills nearly 59,000 people a year—mostly in Asia and Africa. In Morocco, WHO data shows an average of 18 deaths annually over the past decade. Article modifié le 19/06/2025 à 10h42
