Brit dies from rabies after trip to Morocco

TRAVELLER BITTEN BY CAT

A BRITON who died after being bitten by a cat with rabies while abroad in Morocco “did not receive the vaccine until it was too late”, it has emerged.

Public Health England (PHE) issued a warning to travellers after the UK resident contracted the disease after being bitten by a rabid cat.

No more details have been released by officials about the case.

But it is understood that the person was bitten a few weeks ago and was not given immediate, potentially life-saving, treatment.

Prompt care, including wound cleaning and a course of the rabies vaccine, is very effective and can save an infected person’s life.

It is believed that the Briton sought care both in Morocco and when at home after being bitten.

PHE said there is “no risk” to the wider public but as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts have been offered vaccination if necessary.

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, but between 2000 and 2017 five UK residents became infected with rabies after “animal exposures abroad”, PHE added.

The last recorded rabies case in Britain was in 2012, where a UK resident was bitten by a dog in South Asia.

Rabies is passed on through infected animals through injuries such as bites or scratches.