Warning signs woman, 59, had rabies after being scratched by dog on holiday
An inquest has revealed the warning signs of rabies that a woman suffered after being scratched by a stray dog on holiday.
Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, UK, tragically died four months after the incident, which took place on a beach during a holiday in Morocco in February 2025.
The grandmother accidentally startled the animal, which was under her sun lounger, but didn't get the scratch wound treated, as it was so minor she was able to clean it with a wet wipe.
An inquest in Sheffield has heard how she was admitted to Barnsley Hospital after she became ill in June 2025, where her condition deteriorated before a psychiatrist spotted that she may have rabies.
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Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, explained: "She had put her leg down and startled the dog. The scratch was very minor with no evident bleeding.”
However, after experiencing a range of symptoms months later, including severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues, and disorientation, Yvonne went to Barnsley Hospital.
She was admitted a day later as her condition had deteriorated, but doctors struggled to work out what was wrong with her.
Rabies was only diagnosed after a psychiatrist, Dr. Alexander Burns, asked about Yvonne's travel history when she was called-in by medical colleagues who were concerned that symptoms, including hallucinations and high levels of anxiety, could have a mental health cause.
Once the rabies was discovered, Yvonne was then transferred to an infectious disease unit at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where she died.
Dr. Burns told the inquest: "I was informed by her husband that, on February 10, 2025, Yvonne was bitten by a stray dog on a beach in Morocco whilst on holiday.
"The bite had pierced her skin. The short stay unit medical team were not previously aware of that information."
He became 'concerned that the diagnosis may be rabies, in the context of the stray dog bite in Morocco and the various neurological symptoms'.
The doctor added, "It became clear that all of Yvonne’s symptoms could be explained by that diagnosis."
Rabies is a rare but serious infection that's usually caught from a bite or scratch from an infected animal. As per the NHS, it's almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but vaccination and early treatment can prevent it.
You can get rabies if:
- You're bitten or scratched by an infected animal
- An infected animal licks your eyes, nose, or mouth, or you have a wound that's licked by an infected animal
The symptoms of rabies can be prevented if treatment is given immediately after someone has been exposed to the virus, before they develop a full infection. This is known as 'post-exposure treatment' (PET).
If you're abroad, you should get medical help as soon as possible. Do not wait until you get back to the UK. You can also get a preventative vaccine before you travel.
You should get the rabies vaccine if you're travelling to a part of the world where rabies is common, such as Asia, Africa, and parts of Central and South America.
Symptoms of rabies usually take three to 12 weeks to appear, but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years.
As we say, though, it's vital to get treated before symptoms appear, as when they do, it's almost always fatal.
Symptoms of rabies
- Numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched
- Seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
- Feeling very anxious or energetic
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Being unable to move (paralysis)
Madison Burgess