A woman who contracted rabies while abroad has died in a Northern Ireland hospital.
Lisa McMurray had been in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital since the condition was diagnosed last month. Her death was confirmed in a statement from her family.
She had been in Africa a number of times over the last couple of years but began to feel unwell after being home for several months. It is thought she contracted the virus, which is invariably fatal, after being bitten by a rabid dog.
A statement from her brothers said: "We are devastated by the loss of our sister Lisa. We are extremely proud not only of all she achieved in life but also of the bravery with which she fought her illness.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the medical staff who have treated Lisa throughout her illness. Their skill and dedication has been a great source of comfort to us and they did everything possible to care for her."
Rabies is extremely rare in the United Kingdom. There have been only 23 cases since 1946, the last in 2005, and all infections were acquired abroad.
It is believed she may have been infected as far back as December 2006 wile working in an animal sanctuary in South Africa, from where she sent home emails detailing how she had been scratched while separating two dogs. One of the animals had to be put down after it started foaming at the mouth.
Ms McMurray, who was in her 30s, worked as the communications officer at the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau in the city centre until early last year before moving to the Cats Protection NI Adoption Centre at Dundonald on the city outskirts.
Last March she returned briefly to the South African sanctuary and some months after returning home started to feel unwell.
Former Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers, who worked closely with Ms McMurray in promoting the city during his last term in office, said: "I am very upset about her death. She was a lovely young lady, held in the highest regard, and this is a terrible tragedy for her family and everyone who knew her."
