A Briton has died from rabies after being bitten by a cat while in Morocco, health officials have said.

Although there is no evidence of rabies being passed between humans, and there is "no risk" to the wider public, health workers and those close to the victim are being assessed and offered vaccination where necessary.

Public Health England (PHE) revealed the news alongside a renewed warning to travellers as to the risk of the potentially fatal disease - but offered no further information on the precise location of the case or the person concerned.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at the health body, said: "This is an important reminder of the precautions people should take when travelling to countries where rabies is present.

"If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal you must wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay."


As is the case here, rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal.

PHE describes it as a "very serious viral infection", which affects the brain and central nervous system, but initial symptoms can be as unsuspecting as a headache.

But as the disease progresses, there may be hallucinations, respiratory failure, and spasms of the muscles used for swallowing that can make it difficult to drink.

Once fully developed, the symptoms are always fatal - but vaccines are extremely effective if provided promptly after exposure to the disease.

Rabies is extremely rare in the UK, with just one human case obtained from a native animal since 1902. That case was reported in Scotland in 2002, with the victim having sustained a number of bat bites.

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