British grandmother seriously ill with rabies was sent home THREE times by her GP and A&E department before she was diagnosed
- The woman, in her 50s, was bitten by a puppy while on holiday in India with her husband - She went to her GP once and the A&E department of Darent Valley Hospital twice over four days but was sent home each time - Victim returned to her doctor last Friday and was sent to hospital with suspected rabies - A total of 20 people have now been vaccinated against the illness, including six relatives of the woman, hospital medics and at least one doctor By SOPHIE BORLAND<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Sophie+Borland> and ANTHONY BOND<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Anthony+Bond+> *PUBLISHED:* 20:23, 23 May 2012 | *UPDATED:* 08:43, 24 May 2012 - Comments (126)<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2148915/British-grandmother-seriously-ill-rabies-sent-home-THREE-times-GP-A-amp-E-department-diagnosed.html#comments> - Share<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2148915/British-grandmother-seriously-ill-rabies-sent-home-THREE-times-GP-A-amp-E-department-diagnosed.html#socialLinks> - - - - [image: Seriously ill: A British patient is fighting for their life in hospital after being bitten by a rabid dog while on holiday in India (file picture)] Seriously ill: A British patient is fighting for their life in hospital after being bitten by a rabid dog while on holiday in India (file picture) A British grandmother who is seriously ill with rabies was sent home three times by her GP and a hospital before her illness was diagnosed. The victim, in her 50s, was bitten by a puppy while on holiday in India with her husband. She contracted the illness two months ago but only developed symptoms within the last fortnight. According to The Sun, the woman, who lives in London, went to her GP once and the A&E department of Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, twice over four days. However, each time she was sent home. The paper reports that it was only when she returned to her doctor last Friday that she was sent to hospital and suspected to have rabies. The victim, who is believed to be of Indian ethnic origin, is being treated in an isolation room at University College Hospital, London. Her husband was with her when she was bitten by the dog. It is believed that 20 people have been vaccinated against the illness, including six relatives of the woman, hospital medics and at least one doctor. It is the first case of rabies in England in almost seven years. The last occurred in July 2005 when a woman from Manchester died after contracting it from a dog bite during a holiday in the Indian resort of Goa. Officials at the Health Protection Agency have stressed that there is no risk the illness will have been passed on to the general public. More... - One in 12 babies pick up dangerous new infections in hospital<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2148689/One-15-patients-catch-new-infection-hospital.html> - Meningitis girl, 5, given hours to live recovers to become child model<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2148799/Meningitis-girl-5-given-hours-live-recovers-child-model.html> Although the patient has had the virus in Britain for several weeks, it is only since they became unwell that they risked passing it on. In theory, the illness can be transmitted by kissing, sex and organ transplants. [image: Specialist treatment: The patient is in an isolation room at University College Hospital, London (above) after developing symptoms within the last fortnight] Specialist treatment: The patient is in an isolation room at University College Hospital, London (above) after developing symptoms within the last fortnight Doctors have warned that the chances of a rabies victim surviving are extremely slim, as once symptoms develop it is nearly always fatal. It is caused by a virus which spreads through the bloodstream to the brain and spinal cord. It can take between four days and 12 weeks to spread, so if patients are vaccinated in time they can be treated.Early symptoms of rabies include fever, insomnia, anxiety and sickness. Dr Brian McCloskey, director of the Health Protection Agency for London, said: ‘It is important to stress that there is no risk to the general public as a result of this case or to patients and visitors at the hospital where the patient is receiving treatment. [image: Deadly: The grandmother's illness is the first case of rabies in England in almost seven years. The last occurred in July 2005 when a woman died after contracting it from a dog bite during a holiday in the Indian resort of Goa, pictured] Deadly: The grandmother's illness is the first case of rabies in England in almost seven years. The last occurred in July 2005 when a woman died after contracting it from a dog bite during a holiday in the Indian resort of Goa, pictured [image: Rare: Naturalist David McRae (pictured) became the first person in Britain to die of the disease for 100 years after he was bitten on the hand by a rabid bat in 2002] Rare: Naturalist David McRae (pictured) became the first person in Britain to die of the disease for 100 years after he was bitten on the hand by a rabid bat in 2002 'Despite there being tens of thousands of rabies cases each year worldwide, there have been no documented laboratory confirmed cases of human-to-human spread. ‘Therefore the risk to other humans or animals from a patient with rabies is considered negligible. ‘However, to take every possible precaution, family members and healthcare staff who had close contact with the patient since they became unwell have been assessed and offered vaccination.’ In 2002, naturalist David McRae, 56, of Guthrie, Angus, became the first person in Britain to die of the disease for 100 years after he was bitten on the hand by a rabid bat. [image: Killer: Rabies viruses showing their characteristic bullet shape. The disease has an extremely low survival rate once symptoms have developed] Killer: Rabies viruses showing their characteristic bullet shape. The disease has an extremely low survival rate once symptoms have developed [image: Vaccination programme: Although all but eradicated in the UK rabies is still common in developing countries] Vaccination programme: Although all but eradicated in the UK rabies is still common in developing countries There have only been three other cases in the UK since 2000. The last time a Briton caught rabies from a dog in this country, rather than abroad, was 1902. Rabies is caused by a virus which spreads through the bloodstream to the brain and spinal cord. It can take between four days and 12 weeks to spread, so if patients are vaccinated in time they can be treated. Last night a spokesman from UCLH said: ‘The Hospital for Tropical Diseases is currently looking after a British patient diagnosed with rabies following a trip abroad. The patient is in a serious condition. ‘We would like to reassure our patients, visitors and staff that there is no risk to them as a result of this case.’ It is believed the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is also involved in the case because on of the woman's two cats has recently been to a vet. However, it is unclear why it needed to see the vet. The Health Protection Agency has also been notified. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2148915/British-grandmother-seriously-ill-rabies-sent-home-THREE-times-GP-A-amp-E-department-diagnosed.html#ixzz1vlz2wwqG -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
