Rabies: Can you survive the deadly virus and is there a cure as UK tourist's death sparks new warnings

Yvonne Ford, a mother and wife from Barnsley, died six weeks after contracting rabies during a family holiday in February. According to a statement posted by her daughter, she had been “scratched very slightly by a puppy” while abroad. “At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it,” the family wrote on Facebook.

“Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing,” the post said. “We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love.”

Yvonne was diagnosed in Yorkshire and the Humber. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed her death and stated there is “no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people.” However, close contacts and healthcare workers are being assessed and offered precautionary vaccinations.

Can you survive rabies?

Rabies is a rare but deadly viral infection that is typically transmitted through animal bites or scratches. Once symptoms appear, it is “almost always fatal,” according to the NHS. However, the disease can be prevented with prompt post-exposure treatment — which includes multiple doses of the rabies vaccine and, in some cases, a special immunoglobulin injection into the wound.

“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,” said Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses at UKHSA.

The NHS stresses that treatment is only effective before symptoms appear. “Rabies cannot be treated if symptoms appear,” it warns. It adds: “If you've been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that may have rabies, a doctor will check if you need treatment.

Treatment usually involves: two or more doses of the rabies vaccine, and a medicine called rabies immunoglobulin - a liquid given into the wound or by injection (this is only needed if you've not had the rabies vaccine before or have a weakened immune system).

How common is rabies in the UK?

Between 2000 and 2024, only six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad were reported in the UK. Rabies does not circulate among wild or domestic animals in the UK, although a rabies-like virus can be found in some bat species. No human case from animals other than bats has been reported within the UK since 1902.

Rabies remains common in parts of Asia and Africa, including Morocco. Travellers are advised to avoid contact with animals in high-risk countries and seek advice about pre-travel rabies vaccination if they are likely to be exposed.

For more information about rabies risks and prevention, visit TravelHealthPro, NHS.uk, or consult your GP before travelling to high-risk areas.