Health officials issue reminder to take precautions when travelling
A British tourist has died in Morocco after being infected with rabies, Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed.
In a press release, PHE said the UK resident became infected with the disease following a cat bite.
The government agency stressed there is no risk to the wider public health. However, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and vaccinated ‘as a precautionary measure’.
“This is an important reminder of the precautions people should take when travelling to countries where rabies is present,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE.
Rabies does not circulate in wild or domestic animals in the UK, but five cases of the disease occurred between 2000 and 2017 associated with animals overseas. Some species of UK bat carry a rabies-like virus.
In other parts of the world, rabies is common - especially in Africa and Asia. PHE warns that all travellers to such countries should avoid contact with dogs and cats where possible, and enquire about the need for rabies vaccine before travel.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
