Difficulties diagnosing rabies did not affect grandmother's fatal outcome'

"Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died four months after she suffered a minor scratch when she startled a dog under her sun lounger on a Morocco beach during a holiday in February last year. She did not seek medical treatment at the time. It wasn't until June 2 2025 that Mrs Ford eventually went to Barnsley Hospital with a range of symptoms including severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation."

"Rabies was only diagnosed after a psychiatrist asked about Mrs Ford's travel history when he was called in by medical colleagues who were concerned that symptoms including hallucinations, disorientation and high levels of anxiety could have a mental health cause."

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, suffered a minor scratch from a dog while on holiday in Morocco in February 2024 but did not seek medical treatment. Four months later, she presented to Barnsley Hospital with severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues, and disorientation. Her condition rapidly deteriorated after admission, but medical staff struggled to diagnose her illness. Initial symptoms including hallucinations, disorientation, and anxiety led colleagues to consult a psychiatrist, who inquired about her travel history. This prompted rabies diagnosis. She was transferred to Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she subsequently died. A jury determined that diagnostic delays did not affect the fatal outcome.

Read at www.independent.co.uk