First picture of mum who died of rabies after puppy scratch on holiday
A mum tragically succumbed to rabies after a minor scratch from a puppy in Morocco, with her family now sharing their heartbreak and issuing a stark warning.
Yvonne Ford was diagnosed with the deadly disease upon her return to Yorkshire and The Humber, having initially experienced mild symptoms that rapidly escalated, leaving her unable to walk, talk, or swallow. In an emotional Facebook post, her grieving relatives shared: "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. 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."
Authorities are now cautioning travellers about the dangers of interacting with animals in countries affected by rabies, highlighting the near-certain fatality of the disease if contracted. Rabies is transmitted through injuries like bites and scratches from an infected animal, and while post-exposure treatment is highly effective in preventing the illness, it must be administered immediately after exposure to the virus.
Rabies is nearly always fatal after symptoms develop, which can include anxiety, headaches, fever, hallucinations, and respiratory failure. The incubation period for rabies can range from three to 12 weeks, with variations depending on where the infection started, reports the Mirror.
Robyn, Yvonne's daughter, took to Facebook to announce her mum's death and to issue a stark warning about the dangers of rabies, highlighting that it's invariably fatal once symptoms manifest and can be transmitted through even minor scratches or bites. In her post, Robyn included a section titled 'What You Should Know About Rabies', where she stated: "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."
Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses at the UKHSA, stated: "I would like to extend my condolences to this individual's family at this time. "If an animal from a country where rabies is prevalent bites, scratches, or licks you, wash the wound or affected area thoroughly with soap and water, and promptly seek medical advice for post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.
"There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission."
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