A British woman has died of rabies after being scratched by a puppy while on holiday in Morocco. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was scratched on the leg by a stray dog lying under her sunbed in February. She later developed severe symptoms and died on June 11.
Her daughter, neonatal nurse Robyn Thomson, 32, is now on a mission to vaccinate dogs against rabies to prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy. She plans to volunteer with Mission Rabies in Cambodia this October, aiming to raise funds for travel, accommodation, and project fees.
Robyn described her mother as 'the most loving person imaginable' and said her death was a huge shock. She noted that the scratch was mild and the dog showed no signs of illness, so the family thought nothing of it at the time.
After returning from Morocco, Yvonne seemed fine and even went on a family trip to Florida. However, in June she developed a severe headache, followed by an inability to sleep, walk, or talk. She hallucinated, developed a fear of water, and was eventually diagnosed with rabies. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.
Robyn is determined to turn her grief into action by helping vaccinate dogs and educating communities. She has launched a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of her volunteer trip and is appealing for public support.
