Latest news with #rabies
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Good Morning Britain viewers 'wince' as Kate Garraway makes 'disrespectful and insensitive' joke at worst possible time - gasping 'I had to rewind to make sure I'd heard that right!'
Good Morning Britain viewers were left 'wincing' as Kate Garraway made a 'disrespectful and insensitive' joke at the worst possible time. Thursday's episode of the ITV breakfast news show saw the presenter, 58, with co-host Adil Ray, 51, report a particularly sad story to viewers. It was about British grandmother Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who sadly died from rabies this week. Kate explained: 'Did you see this extraordinary story about a woman, she was scratched very slightly by a stray dog whilst on holiday in February, that long ago, in Morocco. 'It wasn't even a particularly bad one at the time. It didn't seem to be infected. Then two weeks ago, she started to feel very unwell, has now passed away.' She added, 'It's made people very conscious because rabies is something we don't think about very much. It is astonishing' - before making an ill-timed quip. It came as she mentioned TV doctor Hilary Jones (pictured on Lorraine in May last year), 71, who often appears on the show for health and wellbeing segments It came as she mentioned TV doctor Hilary Jones, 71, who often appears on the show for health and wellbeing segments. She said: 'I mean, what the doctors say, if I can do my Dr Hilary at the moment for a bit, is make sure you get an inoculation. 'But also, if you have any kind of scratch from any kind of wild animal or animal abroad, get treatments right away, because then it can be stopped.' Rabies - which is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal - is nearly always fatal. It typically takes between three and 12 weeks for symptoms to show but can also take longer in some cases. Viewers picked up on Kate's jokey reference to pretending to be Dr Hilary and felt the tone was not tasteful given the tragic nature of the story. One wrote on X: 'Classy Kate cracking a rabies joke just after reporting on a rabies death.' Someone replied: 'Noticed that too - made me wince. So insensitive.' Viewers picked up on Kate's jokey reference to pretending to be Dr Hilary and felt the tone was not tasteful given the tragic nature of the story 'Did Kate Garraway just make an attempted joke about rabies after talking about the sad death of the lady from Barnsley?', one user questioned in disbelief. Another commenter responded to them: 'Yes! I actually rewound it to make sure I'd heard right!' Someone else weighed in: 'Is this a new trend for your presenters to be disrespectful to people that have just died? 'Lorraine Kelly about Kim Woodburn yesterday then Kate Garraway this morning just before 7am about the poor lady that's just died after contracting rabies!' They were referring to ITV viewers being left fuming earlier this week at the 'disgraceful' way Lorraine Kelly announced Kim Woodburn's death. The presenter, 65, appeared unmoved as she reported on Lorraine earlier this week that the beloved cleaning star, 83, had died on Monday. As her ITV chat show came back after an ad break, Lorraine said to viewers, as a picture of Kim appeared on-screen: 'Welcome back! 'Some news just breaking in the last few minutes. Kim Woodburn, who I'm sure you know, well, she's died at the age of 83. 'Famous, of course, for [Channel 4 hit series] How Clean Is Your House and her controversial time on Celebrity Big Brother [in 2017]. 'A representative for Kim said, "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness". Right, it is ten past nine.' Viewers felt the hurried, casual announcement, with Lorraine showing little emotion, was incredibly insensitive. One wrote on X: 'Lorraine, you are a disgrace, announcing the death of Kim Woodburn without a sorrow in your face!' Meanwhile, another weighed in: 'I'm actually shocked at the lack of empathy Lorraine showed announcing the death of Kim Woodburn.' Someone else blasted her for showing 'no feelings whatsoever' about the so-called Queen of Clean's passing. One user also said: 'That pathetic "tribute" from Lorraine Kelly to our Kim was an insult. She didn't sound the least bit bothered... how disrespectful.' It comes after Kate revealed this week she has been frozen out of her bank accounts after changing her phone handset. The presenter reached out to Barclays bank on social media on Tuesday in a desperate plea for help. Kate said she has been unable to access either her current or savings account since Friday and has not been able to speak to anyone in customer service. She wrote on X: '@Barclays please please get in touch with me - I have not been able to access any of my Barclays accounts current or savings since Friday due to changing my phone handset and can't get through to anyone on customer service - please DM me.' Kate's message did not go unanswered this time and a customer service rep responded to her through the Barclays X account. They wrote: 'Could you please pop into our DMs with your full name, postcode, contact number and we can take it from there together. 'I've popped a link on this message that will take you through to us in DM. 'If you do have any other questions then please do let me know as we are here 24/7 for you. Thank you!' It is the latest financial blow for Kate who has been dealing with debt following her husband Derek Draper's death. The presenter has openly discussed how she has been left with debts between £500,000 and £800,000 after caring for her late husband. Political lobbyist Derek died at the age of 56 in January 2024 following a four-year battle with long Covid, with Kate paying £16,000 a month on his care.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Rabies death prompts jump in vaccine inquiries
The death of a British grandmother from rabies after she was scratched by a puppy while on holiday has sparked a surge in the number of travellers seeking advice about vaccinations, a pharmacist has said. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died in hospital in Sheffield on 11 June after having light contact with the stray dog during a family trip to Morocco in Olamide Olokanmi said that, following news of the tragic case: "We've had a lot of phone calls asking about it."He said his pharmacy in Otley, West Yorkshire, had stocked up on the jab but he was concerned that an increase in demand may lead to a shortage of supply. "We frequently have supply issues with vaccines, especially when there's a high demand for them, and rabies notoriously seems to be one of them," said Mr Olokanmi. "Year-on-year we always have that problem, so I do foresee that being a problem."There would then be a wait for it to come back in or we'd have to go to another manufacturer which then drives up the price of the vaccine."It currently costs up to £330 for a three-dose rabies vaccine. 'Lots of calls' Mrs Ford's death from the the virus was the first in the UK since 2018 when a British man was bitten by a cat in the same African Olokanmi said there had already been an upsurge in the number of people seeking advice about whether to get the vaccination before travelling to high-risk regions such as Asia, Africa and Central and South news of Mrs Ford's death, most people accessing the pharmacy's travel clinic opted not to get the jab, he said. Mr Olokanmi added: "We had one lady come in on Wednesday night who is going on holiday to Morocco."She wasn't going to get the vaccine but after hearing what happened to this lady she changed her mind."A young man has also come in who is going to Morocco and we've had a lot of phone calls from people asking about it." Dr Chris Smith, consultant virologist at the University of Cambridge, said rabies was a "big international problem" but very few people in the UK were affected. "We never take risks with rabies. It's universally fatal if you catch it with very few exceptions."Dr Smith, who heads up the university-based The Naked Scientists podcast, added: "Most of the infections we see come from stray dogs and feral cats."It's very tempting when you see a cute looking puppy or kitten and think, I'll just pet that. But if they've got rabies their behaviour changes."They can scratch or bite you and rabies is spread in the saliva of an infected animal and it's then injected into the wound site either by the scratch or bite."Once it's in you, you have very little time for us to intervene to block it before it gets into the nervous system with fatal consequences."If the worst did happen, thankfully we can intervene but you have to do that promptly. Act immediately and in most countries medical facilities know what to do." The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the latest case involving Mrs Ford underscored "the importance of awareness and timely treatment" for UK the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), said under its code of conduct, it required its members to direct customers to the UK government's travel advice when planning and booking their Brennan, from the organisation, said: "The UK Foreign Office does do a lot to raise awareness of checking this advice and we support them in that, and their work with industry."
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
British holidaymaker dies from rabies: what you need to know about the disease and getting the jab if you're going abroad this summer
The recent death of a British woman from rabies after a holiday in Morocco is a sobering reminder of the risks posed by this almost universally fatal disease, once symptoms begin. If you're considering travelling to a country where rabies is endemic, understanding how rabies works – and how to protect yourself – may go a long way in helping you stay safe. Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Rabies is a zoonotic disease – meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans – and is caused by a viral infection. In 99% of cases the source of the infection is a member of the canidae family (such as dogs, foxes and wolves). Bats are another animal group strongly associated with rabies, as the virus is endemic in many bat populations. Even in countries that are officially rabies-free, including in their domestic animal populations – such as Australia, Sweden and New Zealand – the virus may still be found in native bat species. Other animals known to transmit rabies include raccoons, cats and skunks. Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses (lit. rage or fury viruses), which are found in the saliva of infected animals. Transmission to humans can occur through bites, scratches or licks to broken skin or mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth. Once inside the body, the virus spreads to eventually reach the nervous system. Because it causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, symptoms are primarily neurological, often stemming from damage to the nerve pathways responsible for sensation and muscle control. Patients who develop rabies symptoms often experience altered skin sensation and progressive paralysis. As the virus affects the brain, it can also cause hallucinations, and unusual or erratic behaviours. One particularly distinctive symptom – hydrophobia, a serious aversion to water – is believed to result from severe pain and difficulty associated with swallowing. Once rabies symptoms appear, the virus has already caused irreversible damage. At this stage, treatment is limited to supportive intensive care aimed at easing discomfort – such as providing fluids, sedation and relief from pain and seizures. Death typically results from progressive neurological deterioration, which ultimately leads to respiratory failure. It's important to note that rabies symptoms can take several weeks, or even months, to appear. During this incubation period, there may be no signs that prompt people to seek medical help. However, this window is crucial as it offers the best chance to administer treatment and prevent the virus from progressing. Another danger lies in how the virus is transmitted. Even animals that don't appear rabid – the classical frothing mouth and aggressive behaviour for instance – can still transmit the virus. Rabies can be transmitted through even superficial breaks in the skin, so minor wounds should not be dismissed or treated less seriously. It's also important to remember that bat wounds can often be felt but not seen. This makes them easy to overlook, should there be no bleeding or clear mark on the skin. The good news is that there are proven and effective ways to protect yourself from rabies – either before travelling to a higher-risk area, or after possible exposure to an infected animal. Modern rabies vaccines are far easier to administer than older versions, which some may recall – often with discomfort. In the past, treatment involved multiple frequent injections (over 20 in all) into the abdomen using a large needle. This was the case for a friend of mine who grew up in Africa and was one day bitten by a dog just hours after it had been attacked by a hyena. The vaccine can now be given as an injection into a muscle, for instance in the shoulder, and a typical preventative course requires three doses. Since the protective effect can wane with time, booster shots may be needed for some individuals to maintain protection. Sustaining a bite from any animal should always be taken seriously. Aside from rabies, animals carry many potentially harmful bacteria in their mouths, which can cause skin and soft tissue infections – or sepsis if they spread to the bloodstream. Read more: First aid and wound treatment is the first port of call, and seeking urgent medical attention for any bites, scratches or licks to exposed skin or mucous membranes sustained abroad. In the UK, this also applies to any injuries sustained from bats. A doctor will evaluate the risk based on the wound, the animal involved, whether the patient has had previous vaccines, and in which country they were bitten, among other things. This will help to guide treatment, which might include vaccines alone or combined with an infusion of immunoglobulin infusions – special antibodies that target the virus. Timing is crucial. The sooner treatment is started, the better the outcome. This is why it is so important to seek medical help immediately. In making the decision whether you should get a vaccine before going on holiday, there are recommendations, but ultimately the choice is individual. Think about what the healthcare is like where you are going and whether you'll be able to get treatment easily if you need it. Vaccines can have side-effects, though these tend to be relatively minor, and the intended benefits vastly exceed the costs. And of course avoid contact with stray animals while on holiday, despite how tempting it may be to pet them. Several rules of thumb can counteract the dangers of rabies: plan your holiday carefully, seek travel advice from your GP, and always treat animal bites and scrapes seriously. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Dan Baumgardt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
CBC
16 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Rabid red fox euthanized in eastern Ontario
Rabies has been detected in a red fox in eastern Ontario, with health authorities saying the animal was euthanized and appropriate treatment provided to the people who were in contact with it. The animal was found in Chute-à-Blondeau, east of Hawkesbury, with Eastern Ontario Health Unit's medical officer of health saying it was his first time hearing of a rabid fox in the region. "It was actually bat rabies," said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, about the detection on June 13. "So that doesn't surprise me because we do have rabid bats in the area." That's an important distinction, according to Roumeliotis, signifying the virus didn't transmit between foxes. "That would present a whole kind of ecosystem of rabies," he said on Wednesday. Ministry says detection doesn't mean increased risk The Ministry of Natural Resources is confident the detection doesn't indicate any increased risk to the health of people or wildlife, it said in an email. While it's not common for bat-variant rabies to occur in other species, it is possible, it said. Roumeliotis said a bat may have bitten the fox, while the ministry says the fox, a scavenger, could have come into contact with a dead bat. The last detected case of this strain in a non-bat mammal in eastern Ontario was in a skunk in 2018. 'It looked fine' Janet Cote says the animal lived on her property in Chute-à-Blondeau. She would watch the kit and its siblings from her home's front window as they grew. But on Sunday, May 11, she spotted one acting strangely. "The little tiny one, the runt, stayed out on the grass and, jeez, it was there for about an hour in the full sun," Cote said by phone. "I thought, 'oh its natural instinct should be to go hide, not stay out.'" She says her husband, wearing gloves, was able to handle the animal and place it in an oversized cardboard box. "It looked fine," Cote said. "It just looked like it was super lethargic and tired and I thought, 'Oh, maybe it just needs nutrition.'" "I never thought that it was that sick." The two decided to transport it to Holly's Haven, a wildlife rescue in Dunrobin. Lynne Rowe, its director of operations, says her team had the fox for less than 12 hours. "The next morning we saw it was having seizures," Rowe said. "And so took it straight to our vet who euthanized it and then was concerned about the symptoms" Rowe says possible exposures at the rescue are low — with her team having worn protective equipment while handling the sick animal — but staff have received boosters shots. She says susceptible species at the rescue are also in the process of becoming fully vaccinated. Cote said her husband also received shots. According to Ottawa Public Health, the rabies virus affects the brain of those infected. It's usually spread from animal to animal but can also be spread to humans. If a person with the virus doesn't receive treatment, the disease is already fatal by the time they show symptoms.
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Should I be worried about rabies on holiday and where is it a risk?
Following the death of a British grandmother from rabies, tourists headed on their summer holidays may have heightened concerns about the safety of their travel plans. Yvonne Ford, 59, died in Sheffield last Wednesday (11 June), four months after being scratched by a puppy in Morocco. Rabies, a rare but deadly infection, is usually transmitted to humans through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Once symptoms appear, the viral disease is almost always fatal. Common symptoms of rabies include numbness, hallucinations and difficulty swallowing. Here's everything holidaymakers need to know to stay safe from rabies while travelling. What is rabies? Rabies is a usually fatal infection of the brain and nerves that can be caught if a person is bitten, scratched or licked by an infected animal. The viral disease is spread by contact with saliva from mammals, such as dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes. What are the symptoms of rabies? According to the NHS, symptoms of rabies can take days, weeks or even several months to appear. These include: Numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched Hallucinations Feeling very anxious or energetic Difficulty swallowing or breathing Paralysis 'Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal,' says NHS guidance. Where is rabies most common? Rabies is rare in the UK, but it is found in some UK bat species. It is more common in parts of: Asia Africa Central and South America Can I get a rabies vaccine? There is a pre-exposure rabies vaccine that is recommended to travellers visiting regions where the viral disease is more common. Travellers headed to remote areas for more than a month with a likelihood of encountering infected animals are encouraged by the NHS to have the vaccine. In most cases, you have to pay for the rabies vaccine. Is there a treatment for rabies? Yes, if administered before symptoms appear, travellers can be treated to prevent rabies post-exposure. This usually involves two or more doses of the rabies vaccine. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA): 'A full course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines will provide good protection from rabies for most people.' If a traveller has completed a full course of the pre-exposure rabies vaccine within the last year, they may receive a single booster dose. The NHS say that those who have not had the rabies vaccine before or are immunocompromised may also have their wound treated with a medicine called rabies immunoglobulin. However, once symptoms develop, there is no effective treatment. What is the UK government's advice for travellers? To reduce the risk of getting rabies while travelling abroad, the UKHSA tells tourists to avoid contact with any wild animals, including touching or feeding them. It also warns: 'Rabid animals may behave strangely or seem unusually tame, but some may not have any signs that they are infected.' If bitten, scratched or licked by an animal on broken skin, UKHSA recommends travellers take these steps:
