Woman dies from rabies.

 Today there is a report in The Times of a woman in Yorkshire dying from rabies after contact with a stray dog - while on holiday in Morocco. She had become infected after a visit to the country in February. The disease affects the brain and nervous system. When symptoms become evident they are almost always fatal. However post infection treatment can occur - provided it happens quickly enough and the correct medical procedures are followed in detail. The initial symptoms are: flu like, but rapidly developing into a serious fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, agitation, increased anxiety, difficulty in swallowing and excessive saliva. It’s not a good way to end your life. 

When I was a policeman in the 1960’s in Soho, we were told at our training at Hendon - ‘grab the rabid dog by its collar - assuming it has one. It never explained - what to do if it didn’t have one. You then hit it very hard with your truncheon on the back of the skull in order to kill it - repeat as necessary’. We would say to each other - “good luck with that one mate”. There was moreover a real danger that - you could also be infected by the rabid animal. Which isn’t something you ever want to volunteer for - under any circumstances.