A British woman who died after contracting rabies from a puppy scratch in Morocco was initially misdiagnosed with a mental health condition, an inquest has heard. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, was scratched by a puppy on a beach in Morocco in February but did not seek medical treatment, cleaning the wound with a wet wipe instead.
Upon returning to England, Ford began exhibiting symptoms including anxiety, hallucinations, and dizziness. Medics at Barnsley Hospital struggled to diagnose her and referred her to a psychiatrist, suspecting a mental health problem. Psychiatrist Alexander Burns told Sheffield Coroner's Court that he initially considered Lyme disease before learning of the dog scratch from Ford's husband.
Burns said the short-stay unit had been unaware of the scratch, and after learning of it, he became concerned about rabies. He researched the disease and concluded that all of Ford's symptoms could be explained by that diagnosis. Ford was then transferred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where she died on June 11.
Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright noted that there have been only 26 confirmed rabies cases in the UK since 1946, but the disease is 100% fatal once symptoms appear. Post-exposure vaccinations can help if administered before symptoms develop.
Ford's family has since raised awareness about rabies. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, joined the charity Mission Rabies to immunise dogs in Cambodia and Malawi, stating she wanted to turn the tragedy into a positive.
