Woman in Yorkshire died of rabies

I’ve just read about it online. How shocking and a stark warning of how careful we must be when travelling to countries where rabies is prevalent.

😯

Yes, we tend to forget rabies is still around in so many countries.

I’ve never petted animals I don’t know, good job too, my friend did in Tunisia and was bitten.

When I was in Bali years ago I picked up a puppy belonging to a stray dog which looked dotingly on. The mother appeared to have some fairly major skin disease though the pup did not. It did not occur to me the risks involved. I certainly wouldn’t do it now.

Just found a pic! This is me in 2016 holding aforementioned puppy. It wasn’t Bali but Koh Samui, Thailand. We were on a stop off after visiting DS and family who were living in Hong Kong at the time.

It occurred to me when watching the television programme where couples were racing through China and India. A lot of stray dogs. I assume there is rabies on these continents?

Plenty of North African countries have rabid dogs. Perhaps this poor lady didn't get vaccinated before travel

What struck me was the length of time between her interaction with the dog (February) and the onset of symptoms (two weeks ago, according to the BBC).

Our dog spends a lot of the year here in France. He is regularly vaccinated against rabies, it's a requirement. I think the country has rabies free status now, although something tells me it is carried in bats here.

notnecessarilywiser

What struck me was the length of time between her interaction with the dog (February) and the onset of symptoms (two weeks ago, according to the BBC).

I think it can take up to 3 months to appear.

Whitewavemark2

It occurred to me when watching the television programme where couples were racing through China and India. A lot of stray dogs. I assume there is rabies on these continents?

They would have had the course of 3 injections. Bulgaria still has a low risk warning of rabies.

Read a report about this tragic event on the Times online front page this morning. It referred to the person who died by her surname only. Thought how lacking in respect that was.

I was aware that rabies was endemic when I was in South Africa; I was put off exploring a pretty seaside village by a few stray dogs roaming the streets.

DH worked in a veterinary clinic in India after he retired. He had a rabies jab before he went. He was bitten by a dog in the clinic, and had to go to hospital to have top up jabs.

Tragic- condolences to her family. It is very rare to die from this disease in the UK, I think she was just very unlucky.

You don’t have to go to far flung destinations to contact rabies.
Hungary, Poland and Romania have rabies.
All those countries have more than their share of stray dogs😥

My granddaughter was bitten by a dog in Thailand and had to have a series of vaccinations to ensure that she didn't catch rabies, a pretty terrifying experience for a child.

Britain being an island and by enforcing quarantine managed to eradicate rabies.

This is not possible in countries that have one or more land border to another country, for the simple reason that all mammals can be infected by rabies.

I live in Denmark, near the border with Germany, so I would never dream of not having my cats vaccinated against rabies.

This is necessary because the disease is a killer and a very unpleasant way to die, and because in Germany all cats that are not kept indoors all their lives must be vaccinated, as otherwise they can be put down without the owner's permission if they are suspected of carrying rabies.

Dogs must be vaccinated both in Denmark and Germany, but it is optional for other animals UNLESS you travel across any European border with them.

At regular intervals foxes, wild pigs, or other wild animals are found dead and upon examination test positive for rabies, so actually anywhere in Europe, Asia or Africa you should never approach an animal you do not know.

Whitewavemark2

It occurred to me when watching the television programme where couples were racing through China and India. A lot of stray dogs. I assume there is rabies on these continents?

@Whitewavemark2. I thought that as well! India is the Rabies capital of the world with 35000 deaths a year ( had to do some research for something at work).
This is when I mourn the demise of the public information adverts that used to e shown. I can remember one about rabies, saying to avoid animals when abroad and if you were bitten, scratched or even licked, to get medical help immediately.

This was a lady from my hometown.She died in our local hospital.

Nan321💐

Remember TV series the mad death. Woman smuggling a cat in. Lets it out in the garden and it scratched a fox. Fox bites a man who goes to hospital screaming when they give him water. Panic station when he is diagnosed and they realize he has never left the country