Difficulties in diagnosing rabies in Barnsley woman 'did not' affect final outcome, jury finds
Yvonne Ford, 59, died four months after she suffered a minor scratch from a stray dog in Morocco
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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'sRoyal 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.
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.
Mrs Ford's daughter Robyn Thomson told the inquest on Wednesday that it was vital the public are made aware that they must seek urgent medical advice if they are scratched or bitten by an animal abroad to prevent "another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation".
She said: "We are determined that Yvonne's death will not be without meaning."
Ms Thomson said Mrs Ford was a "loving, active and devoted family woman" who was a "fantastic wife", a "wonderful mother" and an "exceptional grandmother" to her four grandchildren.
She explained to the jury 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 said that "watching Yvonne deteriorate so rapidly was extremely traumatic" during her time at Barnsley Hospital.
Ms Thomson told the jury of nine women and two men how they had to watch her deteriorate "in real time without explanation and with growing fear".
She 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."