Yvonne Ford’s symptoms were only discovered when a psychiatrist asked one key question
People are being urged to watch out for the symptoms of rabies after the death of a woman whose illness was missed at first.
The “rarity of the disease and unusual presentation” caused problems diagnosing rabies in a grandmother who was scratched by a dog in Morocco but this did not affect the fatal outcome, a jury has found. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died four months after she suffered a minor scratch when she startled on dog under her sun lounger on a beach during a holiday in February 2025, but did not seek medical treatment.
Mrs Ford went to Barnsley Hospital on June 2 2025 with a range of symptoms including severe headaches, nausea, mobility issues and disorientation. She was admitted a day later as her condition deteriorated, but doctors struggled to work out what was wrong with her.
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. She was transferred to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she died on June 11 with her family around her wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), the inquest has heard.
In a narrative conclusion on Thursday, a jury of eight men and two women concluded: “The rarity of the disease and unusual presentation led to a difficulty in reaching a diagnosis but this did not affect the outcome.”
Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, told the jury during the three-day inquest in Sheffield that rabies is a virus that is 100% fatal once the symptoms begin to show, but can be prevented with a vaccine. Post-exposure treatment can also be effective but this has to be before symptoms begin.
Speaking outside the court on Thursday, Mrs Ford’s son, Adam Ford, said: “In memory of our beloved mother, our family hope to raise awareness about rabies, not only here in the UK, but around the world. Globally, rabies is responsible for approximately 59,000 deaths every year.
“Despite being preventable, this deadly disease continues to claim thousands of lives. As a family, we feel a deep responsibility to raise awareness about rabies in the hope that greater understanding can help prevent further tragedies.”
Flanked by his dad, Ron Ford, and his sister, Robyn Thomson, Mr Ford said: “No family should have to witness the rapid deterioration of someone they love as we did, with unknown answers for our mum’s symptoms and growing fear of her deterioration.
“Through increased awareness and education, we hope to ensure that others recognise the risks and know the steps they must take to stay safe. Mr Ford urged anyone who is bitten by an animal in a country where rabies remains prevalent to seek immediate medical advice, however minor the wound.
He said: “We truly believe that our mum’s death might have been preventable if there had been greater awareness and education surrounding rabies.”
He added: “By sharing our mum’s story, we hope to help save lives and ensure that fewer families experience the heartbreak that ours has endured.”
“Our mum was a loving mother, and a loving wife and a fantastic grandmother. She was the glue to our family, really, and she’s left a massive hole within our family and friends.”
His sister, Ms Thomson, told the jury on Wednesday how family and staff had to wear gloves, masks, visors and aprons when they were with her mother, from when she was admitted to Sheffield to when she died. Ms Thomson told the inquest how the family were told “there is no possible recovery and that the only outcome would be fatal” after rabies was confirmed at the Royal Hallamshire.
She told the jury how they had to watch her deteriorate “in real time without explanation and with growing fear”.
Ms Thomson said the family had a number of concerns about the basic care her mother received in Barnsley and added: “We don’t believe Yvonne was treated with the level of dignity and respect she deserved.”
Dr Cartwright said that rabies symptoms typically begin within four weeks of exposure – but it can be up to three months and, in some cases, it can take years. She said it appeared that Mrs Ford began to exhibit symptoms at the very end of May and, therefore, there was nothing that could have been done at Barnsley Hospital that would have saved her.
Dr Cartwright told the jury there have only been 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946. Sheffield assistant coroner Marylin Whittle said she required more information before deciding whether a Prevention of Future Deaths Report was necessary in this case.
She said she recognised the family had concerns over Mrs Ford’s care in Barnsley but these were not relevant to the fatal outcome.
Ms Whittle noted that a GP said he would routinely only ask a patient about travel history going back 21 days, and she wanted more information on how this practice had arisen before deciding if a report was needed. A spokesman for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our thoughts are with Yvonne’s family following the sad loss of a loved family member in such unusual circumstances.
“We welcome ongoing discussions with Yvonne’s family about all aspects of her care.”
According to the NHS, rabies is a rare but extremely serious infection of the brain and nerves. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, so seeking medical help immediately after a potential exposure (like a bite or scratch) is critical, even if you feel fine.
Symptoms usually appear 3 to 12 weeks after being bitten, but they can develop in just a few days or, in rare cases, months or years later.
Early Symptoms
The initial signs can be vague and often resemble a common viral infection:
- High temperature (fever)
- Headache
- Feeling generally unwell
- Discomfort at the site of the wound: This often feels like pain, numbness, or an intense tingling/burning sensation where you were bitten or scratched.
Advanced Symptoms
As the virus spreads through the central nervous system, more severe symptoms develop:
- Confusion or aggression
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Hydrophobia: An intense fear of water, often triggered by the pain of trying to swallow.
- Paralysis: Being unable to move parts of the body.
Immediate Action Required
If you are bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal in a high-risk area (or a bat in the UK):
- Wash the wound immediately with plenty of soap and running water for several minutes.
- Apply an antiseptic if available (like iodine or alcohol).
- Seek urgent medical attention in the country where you are. Do not wait until you return to the UK.
- Treatment (post-exposure prophylaxis) is highly effective at preventing the disease if started before symptoms begin.
