Man who died after getting bitten by rabid cat in Morocco named

A man who died after being bitten by a cat with rabies while in Moroccohas been named.

Omar Zouhri, 58, of Aylesbury, died earlier this month following a holiday toNorth Africa.

But it is understood that he was bitten a few weeks ago and was not givenimmediate, potentially life-saving, treatment.

Public Health England (PHE) issued a warning to travellers after the UKresident contracted the disease after being bitten by a rabid cat.

Prompt care, including wound cleaning and a course of the rabies vaccine, is very effective and can save an infected person's life.

It is believed that he sought care both in Morocco and when at home after being bitten.

No more details have been released by officials about the case.

PHE said there is "no risk" to the wider public but as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts have been offered vaccination if necessary.

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, but between 2000 and 2017 five UK residents became infected with rabies after"animal exposures abroad".

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