A UK resident has died after contracting rabies following contact with a stray dog while visiting Morocco, health officials have confirmed.
The individual, who was diagnosed in the Yorkshire and Humber region, became infected after being bitten or scratched abroad. They later developed the disease, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stressed that there is no risk to the wider public, as rabies is not transmitted between humans. However, close contacts and healthcare workers involved in the case are being assessed and offered vaccination as a precaution.
Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses at UKHSA, said: “I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time.
“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 in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.”
Rabies is spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, and can also be transmitted if infected saliva comes into contact with the eyes, mouth or broken skin. It does not circulate in domestic or wild animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. The last recorded case of someone acquiring rabies from an animal other than a bat within the UK was in 1902.
There have been six reported cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad in the UK between 2000 and 2024.
The UKHSA is urging travellers to take precautions when visiting countries where rabies is present, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa. This includes avoiding contact with animals such as dogs and cats, and seeking advice on whether vaccination is needed before travel.
Anyone who is bitten, scratched, or exposed to an animal’s saliva in a rabies-affected country should immediately wash the area with soap and water and seek medical help—regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Post-exposure treatment, when given quickly, is highly effective at preventing the disease.
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