Rabies death could change disease notification period

A coroner is calling for changes to the travel history patients must provide to doctors, following the death of a woman from rabies.

Yvonne Ford, 59, died four months after contracting the fatal disease when she was scratched by a puppy in Morocco in February 2025.

Ford, from Barnsley, went to hospital in June with symptoms, including severe headaches, nausea, and mobility issues, but was only diagnosed when a psychiatrist asked about her travel history.

After jurors returned a narrative conclusion stating the rarity of the disease led to difficulties with her diagnosis, coroner Marilyn Whittle said she would write to the government urging a review of the current 21 day notification period.

The inquest in Sheffield had heard that medics at Barnsley Hospital had struggled to diagnose Ford's condition because of a lack of exposure to rabies cases - which are extremely rare in the UK - and it was initially suspected she may have Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, or be experiencing a mental health episode.

Her family were eventually asked about her travel history, and information from her husband Ronald about the dog scratch led doctors to investigate rabies.

She died at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, and an expert told the hearing that the disease is always fatal once symptoms have developed.

Whittle indicated that she would seek further information before making a Prevention of Future Deaths order.

Earlier the jury was told that Ford and her family were not concerned about the dog scratch at the time because it did not draw blood, and she cleaned the cut with a wet wipe.

Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, said it was vital the public knew to seek urgent treatment if scratched or bitten by an animal abroad, as only immediate medical attention can prevent the disease developing.

Ford went to hospital on 2 June complaining of severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation. Her symptoms had begun in late May.

By the time of her death she was refusing to drink, despite desperate efforts to hydrate her, and the inquest was told this was sign of hydrophobia, a fear of water commons in rabies cases.

Ford was only transferred to an infectious diseases unit on 11 June after those treating her at Barnsley Hospital learned about the dog scratch.

A psychiatrist, Dr Alexander Burns, asked the family about foreign travel when he was considering the possibility of Lyme disease, and said staff had not been told about the Morocco incident before then.

He had never seen a rabies case before, so had to research the symptoms.

Dr Katherine Cartwright, an expert from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury that there had only been 26 rabies cases in the UK since 1946.

The disease has been eliminated from the UK but many countries are still considered to be high risk.

Dr Cartwright added that symptoms usually begin within four weeks of exposure, but can take up to three months to become apparent.

Ford had also visited her GP in March and April when she felt unwell, and complained about insect bites.

The jury concluded: "The rarity of the disease and unusual presentation led to a difficulty in reaching a diagnosis but this did not affect the outcome."

Earlier the Ford family had told the inquest that their wife and mother's deterioration had been "traumatic" and that they had had to wear PPE when spending her final hours at her bedside.

They had been told once she arrived at the Royal Hallamshire that she would not recover.

A spokesperson for Barnsley Hospital said: "Our thoughts are with Yvonne's family following the sad loss of a loved family member in such unusual circumstances.

"Yvonne tragically died from rabies following contact with a dog in Morocco – an infection that is extremely rare in the UK. We welcome ongoing discussions with Yvonne's family about all aspects of her care.

"For general information about rabies, see the NHS website or the UKHSA leaflet on rabies risks for travellers."