Person dies from rabies in Yorkshire after contact with stray dog in Morocco
Rabies death in the UK after tourist bitten by dog on Morocco holiday
- A person in Yorkshire has died from rabies after contracting the infection from a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed.
- Health workers and individuals who had close contact with the deceased are being assessed and offered vaccinations as a precautionary measure.
- The UKHSA emphasised there is no risk to the wider public, as rabies is not transmitted directly between humans.
- Rabies is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is highly effective if administered promptly after exposure.
- Rabies does not circulate in wild or domestic animals in the UK, and human cases acquired abroad are rare, with only six reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.