An inquest revealed that a woman in her late 50s, Yvonne Ford, succumbed to rabies four months after a stray dog scratched her. The diagnosis only came to light after she was referred to a psychiatric evaluation, as disclosed during the hearing in Sheffield.
Ford, a resident of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, encountered the stray dog while on a beach in Morocco during a family vacation in February 2025. Despite the minor scratch, she opted not to seek medical attention and simply cleaned the wound with a wet wipe.
Rabies, a disease with a 100% fatality rate once symptoms manifest, has been rare in the UK, with only 26 reported cases since 1946. It was only after Ford’s referral to the mental health team at Barnsley Hospital in June 2025 that the rabies infection was identified, prompted by a query about her recent travel history.
Dr. Alexander Burns, a psychiatrist involved in Ford’s care, was initially exploring Lyme disease as a possible cause before uncovering the crucial detail of the stray dog bite in Morocco. This revelation, combined with Ford’s neurological symptoms, led to the suspicion of rabies, a diagnosis that was later confirmed.
Despite efforts to transfer Ford to an infectious disease unit at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital for treatment, she tragically passed away on June 11, 2025. Dr. Katharine Cartwright, an infectious diseases expert, highlighted the rarity of rabies cases in the UK and emphasized the importance of pre-exposure vaccination.
The inquest delved into Ford’s visits to various healthcare facilities in the months preceding her death, with symptoms initially misattributed before the rabies diagnosis surfaced. Dr. Cartwright explained the transmission and symptoms of rabies, shedding light on the challenges faced in identifying the disease.
Assistant Coroner Marilyn Whittle hinted at further investigation into Ford’s medical interactions leading up to her passing, underscoring the complexity of diagnosing rabies and the swift progression of symptoms once they appear.
