Grandmother, 59, who died from rabies after dog scratch on holiday in Morocco could not have been saved even if doctors diagnosed her sooner, inquest finds
Grandmother, 59, who died from rabies after dog scratch on holiday in Morocco could not have been saved even if doctors diagnosed her sooner, inquest finds
Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, succumbed to rabies four months after a minor scratch from a stray dog during a beach holiday in Morocco. An inquest in Sheffield concluded that timely diagnosis might not have altered the outcome, despite efforts by medical staff to identify her condition.
Incident on the beach
The injury occurred in February last year when Mrs. Ford startled a dog on the shore with her husband, Ron. The scratch, which pierced her skin, was treated with a wet wipe, as she believed it to be a minor issue. However, by May, she began experiencing headaches and anxiety, prompting a visit to Barnsley Hospital on June 2.
Progression of symptoms
Her health worsened, with symptoms including nausea, panic attacks, hallucinations of flies and flowers, and hydrophobia—a fear of water characteristic of rabies. These signs led to a psychiatric referral on June 6, as doctors suspected a mental health crisis. During the consultation, the psychiatrist inquired about her travel history and learned of the dog scratch in Morocco.
Following the suspicion, Mrs. Ford was transferred to a specialist infectious diseases team at Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Yet, her condition deteriorated rapidly, resulting in her death on June 11.
“It was vital the public are made aware that they must seek urgent medical advice if scratched or bitten by an animal abroad to prevent another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation,” said Robyn Thomson, Mrs. Ford’s daughter.
Robyn, along with her husband Ron, attended every day of the three-day inquest. The family emphasized that despite her diagnosis, they had to wear protective gear when visiting her at the hospital, highlighting the seriousness of her condition.
Dr. Katharine Cartwright, an infectious disease expert, testified that rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms manifest. She noted that the disease’s low prevalence and atypical presentation made early detection challenging, though this did not impact the final result.
“Despite being preventable, this deadly disease continues to claim thousands of lives. As a family, we feel a deep responsibility to raise awareness about rabies in the hope that greater understanding can help prevent further tragedies,” added Adam, Mrs. Ford’s son.
While rabies is rare in the UK, with only 26 cases reported since 1946, countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Turkey pose a significant risk. A spokesperson for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust expressed condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with Yvonne’s family following the sad loss of a loved family member in such unusual circumstances. We welcome ongoing discussions about all aspects of her care.”
