Daughter Recounts Mother’s Horrific Rabies Death After Moroccan Holiday Scratch
Tragic case highlights dangers of neglected animal encounters
A British grandmother’s fatal battle with rabies, contracted after a seemingly minor scratch from a puppy on a Moroccan holiday, has been described as “horrendous” by her grieving daughter.
A Holiday Mishap Turns Deadly
Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was enjoying a holiday with her husband in February when a small stray puppy scratched her leg. The incident, occurring near her sunbed, was initially dismissed by Mrs. Ford and her family.
Months later, in June, Mrs. Ford began experiencing severe symptoms, including a debilitating headache. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to an inability to walk, talk, sleep, or swallow. She also suffered hallucinations and developed hydrophobia.
Rabies Diagnosis and Tragic Outcome
Transferred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, Mrs. Ford was eventually diagnosed with rabies. Despite medical intervention, the devastating virus proved fatal, and she passed away on June 11.
“[Mum] was the most loving person imaginable. She had the biggest heart. She was my best friend and the most fantastic grandparent to mine and my brother’s children. She was a huge animal lover so for her to have died of rabies – it is just particularly horrendous. She will be missed so dearly.”
—Robyn Thomson, Daughter
Robyn Thomson, Mrs. Ford‘s 32-year-old daughter, shared the family’s shock at the prolonged incubation period of the disease. While symptoms typically appear within months, rabies can remain dormant for up to two years.
Mrs. Thomson recounted the moment of the scratch, noting that it was mild, with no bleeding or visible signs of illness in the puppy. “We just thought nothing of it at the time,” she stated.
Spreading Awareness and Prevention
The family later learned that such scratches can transmit the virus, even without immediate visible signs of infection. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms manifest, leading the family to make the difficult decision to withdraw life support.
The World Health Organization estimates that tens of thousands of people die from rabies each year, with the vast majority of these deaths occurring in Asia and Africa, often from dog bites (WHO).
A Mission to Prevent Future Tragedies
Robyn Thomson is now channeling her grief into action by launching a fundraising campaign to support rabies prevention efforts in Cambodia. Her mission aims to vaccinate dogs, bolster surveillance, and educate communities about the disease.
“This is something I need to do,” Robyn explained. “If I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through the pain we have experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive.”
She is determined to transform her loss into tangible progress, focusing on critical interventions that can stop rabies at its source and prevent further heartbreaking losses.
