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Rabat — A British woman, Yvonne Ford, has died of rabies in the UK four months after being “very slightly” scratched by a puppy during a visit to Morocco.
British media reported the news, noting that the woman died on June 11. She was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK.
The 59-year-old woman was from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She came in contact with a stray dog when she was on holiday in February.
Ford’s family said Yvonne first developed symptoms like a headache, and later could not walk, talk, sleep, or swallow.
The woman’s daughter, Robyn Thomson, said Yvonne’s relatives are still processing the “unimaginable loss,” noting that they are choosing to speak up to avoid and prevent this from happening to others.
“She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it,” her post on Facebook reads.
She asked people to get vaccinated even if a minor scratch or a bite happens, as this could transmit the virus.
The UK Health Security Agency said that there was no risk to the public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people.
The incident came amid renewed criticism in Western media, which often portrays Morocco as hostile to stray animals, while ignoring the growing national efforts to address the issue.
In response to rising concerns, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit recently announced in May that the government is rolling out an ambitious national program with a budget exceeding MAD 1 billion (over $100 million), aimed at controlling the stray dog population and ensuring public safety.
Morocco has been stepping up its efforts to tackle the situation, but much of the international coverage continues to overlook the initiatives being led by local communities to protect both people and animals.
