A UK woman died of rabies after a puppy scratch in Morocco; her family blames NHS failures in diagnosis and response.

Yvonne Ford, a 59-year-old British woman, died from rabies in June 2025 after a minor scratch from a puppy during a trip to Morocco in February. Her family, including husband Ron Ford and daughter Robyn Thomson, questioned the NHS’s response during a pre-inquest hearing on December 5, 2025, citing missed diagnoses and inaccurate assurances that she did not have rabies despite worsening symptoms. A full inquest is scheduled for March 2, 2026, to examine the circumstances of her death, with six witnesses set to testify. The case, involving a rare but fatal infection, has raised concerns about the UK’s preparedness to handle such cases.