Grandmother Who Died from Rabies After Being Scratched by Stray Dog Learned She Had the Virus Just Days Before Her Death

A 59-year-old British woman, Yvonne Ford, passed away after contracting rabies from a minor scratch inflicted by a stray puppy during her holiday in Morocco earlier this year. Ford’s tragic demise occurred four months after the incident, highlighting the dire consequences of this deadly virus that few people associate with relatively innocuous encounters with animals.

Ford was enjoying a vacation in Morocco in February 2025 when she sustained a slight scratch from a stray dog. Initially dismissing it as a minor injury, she did not seek medical attention or post-exposure prophylaxis, which is particularly crucial in cases of animal bites from potential rabies carriers. Regrettably, she began experiencing severe neurological symptoms in May and was later diagnosed with rabies just days before her death on 11 June 2025.

According to her daughter, Robyn Thomson, Yvonne started feeling unwell two weeks prior to her passing. In a heartfelt social media post, Thomson detailed her mother’s decline, stating that it all began with a headache, which progressed to impairments in her ability to walk, talk, and swallow. This swift deterioration underlined the aggressive nature of the rabies virus, which can devastate the nervous system once neurological symptoms manifest.

During an inquest held in early March, it was revealed that the hospital staff initially suspected Ford may have contracted Lyme disease due to her family’s travel history. It wasn’t until psychiatrist Dr. Alexander Burns inquired about the scratch from a dog during her consultation that the connection to rabies emerged. Burns stated that the scratch had penetrated Ford’s skin, making the risk of rabies a serious concern.

Upon diagnosis, Ford became the first rabies patient that Dr. Burns had treated. She was subsequently transferred to the infectious disease unit at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where she succumbed to the illness. Despite the medical staff’s efforts, the severity of her condition by that stage meant that there was little they could do to intervene successfully.

Experts at the inquest provided further insights into rabies, noting that it is a viral infection typically transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected animals. Once symptoms arise, rabies is almost always fatal, which underscores the importance of prompt medical care following potential exposure. Medical guidance strongly advises individuals to seek immediate treatment when exposed to wild animals, as vaccination can effectively prevent the disease if administered in time.

Katharine Cartwright, an infectious diseases specialist from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, mentioned during the inquest that Ford’s case was particularly unfortunate, and by the time her symptoms emerged, it was too late for effective intervention to be undertaken at Barnsley Hospital.

Statistics reveal that rabies is an exceedingly rare occurrence in the UK, with only 26 cases documented since 1946, according to figures cited by the BBC. This rarity likely contributes to the general public’s lack of awareness regarding the urgency of treatment after animal bites from suspected carriers.

As the community mourns the loss of Yvonne Ford, her case serves as a painful reminder of the dangers associated with animal interactions, particularly in regions where rabies is more prevalent. Ford’s family continues to advocate for greater awareness of the disease and the critical need for preventative measures for travellers.

As people recount Ford’s tragic story, it is imperative to stress the potential risks associated with stray animals and the importance of seeking medical assistance without delay after any scratch or bite. The developments from her case will likely spur discussions around travel advisories and health education concerning rabies, helping to safeguard future travellers from similar fates.