A Norwegian woman, 24, was on holiday with friends when they found the puppy on a street. The puppy is thought to have infected her when it bit her after they took it back to their resort.
She fell ill soon after returning to Norway and died at the hospital where she worked.
Her family said she had sterilised the “small scrapes” given by the puppy as she played with it but sought no more medical attention.
Rabies can cause a life-threatening infection of the brain and nervous system in humans. The disease is nearly always fatal without vaccinations and kills thousands of people every year, mostly in Asia and Africa.
Pre-exposure vaccines are available to help with prevention. Post-exposure vaccinations are also recommended for anyone who may have come into contact or bitten or scratched with an animal.
It’s really important to stress that even if you’ve been vaccinated before you travel, if you do have contact you need to go to a local health clinic for further treatment.
All patients visiting GHTC are given a full risk assessment and advice if required on treating bites or scrapes from animals. For more in depth information talk to our clinician
or go to