A British grandmother has died after contracting rabies from a “slight scratch” from a puppy during a holiday in Morocco, her family has said.

Yvonne Ford’s daughter said she travelled to the North African country in February but did not become ill until two weeks ago.

Robyn Thomson said in a Facebook post: “Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others.

“She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn’t think much of it.

“Two weeks ago she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing.”

Ms Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was diagnosed with the virus at Barnsley Hospital.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said health workers and close contacts were being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.

It said there was no risk to the wider public because there is no evidence rabies can be transmitted between people.

Dr Katherine Russell at the UKHSA said: “I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time.

“If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.”

The UKHSA urges travellers to rabies-affected countries, for example in Asia and Africa, to avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible and check whether a vaccination is needed before travelling.

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There have been six cases of human rabies associated with animal exposure abroad that have been reported in the UK between 2000 and 2024.

This includes a case in 2012, when a UK resident died after being bitten by a dog – the most common source of infection in most parts of the world – in South Asia.

The latest case was in 2018, when another Briton died after being bitten by a cat in Morocco.

Latest World Health Organisation figures show a number of deaths from rabies in Morocco have been reported every year from 2010 to 2022.

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.

The grieving mother of a Scottish teenager who vanished for almost five weeks has told Sky News she believes a “third party” was involved in her son’s death – but police say there’s “no evidence” of that.

Cole Cooper, 19, was discovered dead in woods near Falkirk earlier this month following a missing persons inquiry his relatives don’t believe was taken seriously enough by police.

He was last seen on CCTV in May after leaving a house party, but police later revealed a former school friend had spoken to Cole a few days later nearby.

Speaking exclusively to Sky News, his mother Wendy Stewart, 42, revealed her son had “various arguments” in the days and hours before he disappeared.

In an emotional interview, she said: “He was only 19, he should never have been taken. I am never going to see him again. I never got a chance to give him a last cuddle and hold his hand.

“Someone has taken that away from me far too soon. Whether it be intentionally or unintentionally, I do believe there has been some involvement by a third party and the result is the death of Cole.”

The family, who organised a local vigil in Cole’s memory last weekend, have vowed to get “justice”.

Asked what that means, Ms Stewart told Sky News: “Finding the culprit and getting justice that way. Finding the person that is responsible for the death of my child.”

Police previously said 400 residents were spoken to during door-to-door enquiries and more than 2,000 hours of CCTV footage was collected.

The 19-year-old’s death is being treated as “unexplained”, with a top police officer saying “at this time there is no evidence of any third party involvement”.

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Cole’s aunt Aimee Tennie, 32, revealed the family’s anger over the police handling of the case as they attempt to find out what happened.

She said: “We are aware of small details surrounding the weekend leading up to it with arguments. He had a few arguments over that weekend. We want the details re-examined thoroughly.”

Sky News put all of the family’s concerns and allegations to Police Scotland.

The force initially swerved our questions and responded saying: “Enquiries remain ongoing.”

In an update later on Wednesday morning, Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson said: “We are carrying out significant enquiries into Cole’s death, however, at this time there is no evidence of any third party involvement.

“It is vital that we establish the full circumstances leading up to Cole’s death so that we can provide some answers to his family.

“The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are very much with his family and friends and officers will continue to offer them support and keep them informed as our enquiries progress.”

Ms Stewart claimed the probe has been handled “shockingly” with a failure to take her son’s disappearance seriously.

The 42-year-old said: “I have had to scream and shout from rooftops to be heard by the police. I don’t think they have handled it well.

“The police really need to take accountability and listen to families, they are reporting a missing child and understand the family knows their child best.”

Cole’s loved ones still have not been told when his body will be released to allow them to lay him to rest.

Two sisters drowned in pools in Wales’s largest national park, an inquest has heard.

Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid, 25, were pulled from pools on the Watkin Path – one of the six main routes to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon, in North Wales on 11 June.

North Wales Police said officers were called to the scene in Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, at 9.31pm after they received a report that a woman had been pulled from the water, and another was said to be in the pools.

Both sisters, who were born in Pakistan but lived in Maltsby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, were pronounced dead at the scene before 11pm.

Inquests into their deaths were opened at the Dafydd Orwig Chamber in Caernarfon on Wednesday, and assistant coroner for north-west Wales, Sarah Riley, said they “sadly both died as a result of drowning”.

“Investigations continue in terms of how they came by their death and the inquest is therefore adjourned to allow for completion of those investigations,” she added, as she offered her condolences to the sisters’ family and friends.

The coroner said the siblings “had travelled to the Nant Gwynant area with friends from university”, with a friend later identifying the University of Chester students.

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Vice-chancellor of the University of Chester, Professor Eunice Simmons, said: “The University of Chester community is in mourning for the tragic loss of Haleema Zahid and Hajra Zahid and our heartfelt sympathies are with their families and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

“Haleema and Hajra had joined Chester Business School earlier this year on the Master’s in International Business course.

“They touched the lives of many here at Chester – their friends, the cohort on their course and the staff who taught them – and they will be deeply missed.”