An inquest has been held into the death of a 59-year-old mother from Barnsley who died four months after being bitten by a stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco.
Yvonne Ford had suffered a minor scratch for which she did not seek medical attention at the time, but later presented with a range of symptoms such as severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation.
Mrs Ford went to Barnsley Hospital on 2 June 2025, and was later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield as her condition deteriorated.
She died in hospital on 11 June, surrounded by her family.
In a narrative conclusion to the inquest on Thursday, the jury decided: “The rarity of the disease and unusual presentation led to a difficulty in reaching a diagnosis but this did not affect the outcome.”
Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury that rabies is a virus that has 100% mortality after symptoms start to show, although this can be prevented through a vaccine.
Dr Cartwright said that Mrs Ford’s symptoms began to show at the end of May, before she went to hospital, therefore there was nothing that could have been done to save her.
She said there have only been 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946.
Adam Ford, Mrs Ford’s son, spoke following the hearing:
“In memory of our beloved mother, our family hopes to raise awareness about rabies, not only here in the UK, but around the world. Globally, rabies is responsible for approximately 59,000 deaths every year.
“Despite being preventable, this deadly disease continues to claim thousands of lives.”
Mr Ford urged anyone who is bitten by an animal in a country where rabies is prevalent to seek immediate medical care, even if the injury is minor.
Sheffield assistant coroner Marylin Whittle said she required more information before deciding whether a Prevention of Future Deaths Report was necessary in this case.
A spokesman for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our thoughts are with Yvonne’s family following the sad loss of a loved family member in such unusual circumstances.”