According to media reports, a Swiss woman died of rabies at the end of June in the Moroccan fishing village of Taghazout. A close friend stated that the woman had been living and working in Morocco. During her stay, she developed a close bond with a stray dog she intended to adopt. Over time, the dog scratched her several times and eventually bit her.
Although the dog was taken to a veterinarian, it was reportedly misdiagnosed with distemper—a viral disease not transmissible to humans—and subsequently euthanized. After the bite, the woman received two precautionary rabies vaccine doses within a week, but the treatment may have come too late. Her friend believes the infection likely occurred from the initial scratch.
A recent fatal case of rabies was also reported in a UK traveler who had been scratched by a dog while in Morocco.
This tragic case underscores the importance of awareness about rabies and the critical need for post- exposure prophylaxis following potential exposures, such as dog bites or scratches, in rabies-endemic travel destinations, see also rabies factsheet.
Prevention: Avoid contact with animals and do not feed them! Travelers are advised to get a pre-exposure vaccination, especially those at higher risk, such as individuals working with animals, riding two-wheelers, visiting remote areas, young children, cave explorers, or anyone who may come into contact with bats.
Behavior after exposure: After an animal bite/scratch: immediately wash the wound with water and soap for 15 minutes, then disinfect and in any case visit a high-quality medical center for post-exposure vaccination as soon as possible!