Briton dies from rabies after stray dog contact in Morocco

A woman from South Yorkshire has died from rabies after contact with a stray dog in Morocco.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the woman, from Barnsley, became infected while on holiday in the North African country.

The agency said there was no risk to the wider public due to no documented evidence of rabies passing between people.

Close contacts of the woman and health workers were being assessed and offered vaccinations when necessary as a precaution, a UKHSA spokesperson added.

Rabies can cause a life-threatening infection of the brain and nervous system in humans.

It is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal.

It is nearly always fatal, the UKHSA said, but post-exposure treatment is “very effective” at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus.

Dr Katherine Russell, from the UKHSA, said: “Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK.

“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.”

Six cases of human rabies connected to animal exposure abroad have been reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.

Rabies is particularly common in Asia and Africa, the UKHSA said, with people visiting affected countries advised to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever they can.

The agency also advised people to seek advice about the need for a rabies vaccine before travel.