A patient is being treated for suspected rabies in a Northern Ireland hospital. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed the person had recently travelled in an area affected by the disease. They are being assessed in accordance with the 'national risk assessment protocol' at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, the PHA added. A patient at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast is being tested for suspected rabies . Lisa McMurray died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, in 2009 after contracting rabies while working in South Africa . 'The patient is currently being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and is being tested for a number of diseases including rabies,' said a spokeswoman. The results of the 'complex' series of tests are not expected to be known until early next week. The PHA refused to reveal any details about the patient, including their gender, age or their condition. Transmission is generally through the bite of an infected animal, usually dogs, but also cats, bats and other wildlife. In the UK, the viral infection that attacks the brain and nervous system has been largely eliminated from the animal population. The NHS website states infections are mostly picked up during travel abroad and are almost always fatal unless early treatment is received. Animal career Lisa McMurray died at the same Belfast hospital in 2009 after contracting rabies. It was thought she contracted the infection while working at an animal sanctuary in South Africa. Ms McMurray had told friends she had been injured while separating two fighting dogs. Today the PHA said  there was no increased risk to the wider community as a result of the latests possible case. They stressed that a course of rabies vaccination could prevent infection. Rabies can spread to humans from infected animals through a bite, a scratch, or a lick to broken skin or the eye. You may also be at risk if an animal spits in your face. In very rare cases, rabies can be spread during an organ transplant. Once it enters the body, the rabies virus multiplies before spreading into nerve endings. It then travels to the spinal cord and brain (the central nervous system). Once the virus is in the central nervous system, it multiplies rapidly and spreads to the salivary glands, lungs, kidneys and other organs. Symptoms include high temperature, fear of water, and sensitivity to light. Rabies is almost always fatal unless treated very early. (Source NHS)
Public Health Agency confirm patient is being tested for rabies in hospital .
Say that the person had recently travelled to area affected by disease .
Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the brain and nervous system .