Person dies of rabies in Yorkshire after contact with dog in Morocco

A person has died in Yorkshire from rabies after contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

The individual, who is yet to be named, was diagnosed in Yorkshire and Humber after returning from the north African country.

The UKHSA said there was no risk to the wider public because there was no evidence that rabies could be passed between people.

However, as a precautionary measure, it was assessing health workers and close contacts, to offer vaccination where necessary.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread via the saliva of infected animals, and people usually contract it after being bitten by an infected animal.

Animals such as cows, cats and foxes can carry the virus but, in some countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.

Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal, but treating a wound immediately after being bitten may prevent death.

The first symptoms of rabies can be similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva.

The case is only the seventh time this millennium that a person in the UK has been diagnosed with rabies due to exposure to infected animals. Like the current case, all previous cases were found to have started with the person becoming infected abroad.

Rabies is not found in wild or domestic animals within the UK and, aside from cases linked to individuals being bitten by bats which can carry a rabies-like virus, there has not been a reported case of a person becoming infected in the UK since 1902.

People may develop fears over such things as swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis.

Dr Katherine Russell, the head of emerging infections and zoonoses at the UKHSA, offered her sympathies to the deceased’s family and advised that the best way to treat a potential rabies infection was to wash any wounds as soon as possible.

“I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time,” she said. “If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.”