Norwegian woman 'dies from rabies after puppy bite while on holiday in Philippines'

She fell ill after returning from the Philippines
Birgitte Kallestad
Jacob Jarvis10 May 2019

A woman from Norway has died after contracting rabies from a puppy while on holiday in the Philippines, according to reports.

Birgitte Kallestad, 24, was on holiday in the Philippines when her and some friends found a puppy on a street, her family said.

The dog is thought to have infected her after they took it back to their resort.

She fell ill after returning from the trip in February and died on Monday at the hospital where she worked.

Her family now wishes to warn others of the danger of rabies while travelling.

A statement from her family to the BBC said: "Our dear Birgitte loved animals.

"Our fear is that this will happen to others who have a warm heart like her.”

They expressed their hope that “the death of our sunbeam can save others” as they called for rabies vaccinations to be compulsory for those travelling to the Philippines, which they are not currently for those travelling from Norway.

Rabies is usually treatable if caught within a certain timescale, though without medical attention it can cause a life-threatening infection of the brain and nervous system in humans.

The Standard has contacted Norway's public health body for comment.

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