A British woman has died of rabies after being “scratched” by a puppy in Morocco, her family said.

Yavon Ford, a 59 -year -old of South Yorkshire’s Barnsley, had a mild contact with a stray dog ​​during a holiday in the North African country in the North African country.

In a social media post reported by the Press Association, Mrs. Ford’s family said that she developed a headache two weeks ago and later could not “walk, talk, sleep, swallow”.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that there was no risk to the wider public due to any documented evidence of passing through rabies among the people.

After confirming the hospital trust, Mrs. Ford was diagnosed at the Barnsley Hospital after returning to Britain. He died on 11 June.

An inquiry about his death was earlier opened in Sheffield.

In Facebook post, his daughter Robin Thomson said the family is “still processing this unimaginable loss”.

“She was very little scratched by a puppy in Morocco in February,” she wrote.

“At that time, he did not think that any loss would come about it and did not think much about it.

She continued: “She became ill two weeks ago, began with a headache and as a result she lost her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. As a result, she began to pass as a result.”

A UKHSA spokesperson said close contacts between MRS Ford and health workers were being evaluated and vaccination was offered as a precaution.

• Rabies is a virus that causes infection of the brain and nervous system in humans
• Symptoms of rabies usually take three to 12 weeks to appear – but they may not appear after a few days or for several months or years.
• Symptoms include numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched, feeling very worried or energetic, swallowing or breathing and difficulty in paralysis
• It is almost always fatal when symptoms appear, but post-expose treatment is given immediately after exposed to the virus, it is “very effective” in preventing the disease.
• The NHS website also advised people that if they were bitten, scratched or licked on the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound by an animal abroad, they advised them to get medical help immediately.

Source: World Health Organization/NHS/UKHSA

Ms. Thomson said: “We never thought that something we love can happen.

“Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate people around you.”

Six cases of human rabies related to animal risk abroad have been reported to be between 2000 and 2024 in the UK.

Rabies is especially common in Asia and Africa, UKHSA said, “People coming to affected countries advised to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals, wherever possible.

The agency advised people to consult the need for rabies vaccine before traveling.

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