Nearly 200 people from a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Budaun district sought anti-rabies vaccination after learning that raita served at a funeral ceremony was prepared using milk from a buffalo that later died of suspected rabies. Medical experts, however, say the concern was largely unfounded.
What led to the panic?
A tehrai ceremony was held on December 23 in Pipraul village, where raita was served to attendees. A few days later, the buffalo that supplied the milk reportedly fell ill and died. Villagers claimed the animal had earlier been bitten by a stray dog, raising fears of rabies exposure.
As the information spread, anxiety grew in the village. More than 200 residents reportedly visited the Ujhani Community Health Centre, where they were administered anti-rabies vaccines as a precautionary measure.
Can rabies spread through milk or milk products?
Doctors say rabies does not spread through milk, even if it comes from an animal infected with the virus. Rabies is transmitted almost exclusively through the saliva of an infected animal, typically via bites, scratches, or contact with open wounds.
Dr Tushar Tayal, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, explained that the rabies virus is mainly found in the brain and salivary glands. “The likelihood of the virus being present in the mammary glands, which produce milk, is extremely low,” he said.
He added that even in a highly unlikely situation where trace amounts of the virus were present, boiling or pasteurising milk would destroy it. “Any virus present in milk would be completely inactivated by boiling. There is no need to worry about consuming milk or milk products from a suspected rabid animal,” Dr Tayal said.
Importantly, there are no documented cases worldwide of rabies transmission through ingestion of milk or food.
Why were vaccines administered?
According to reports, health officials said the vaccinations were given mainly to calm fears and address doubts among villagers. From a medical perspective, Dr Tayal noted, vaccination was not required in this scenario.
However, he cautioned that while consuming milk is not a risk, direct contact with a potentially rabid animal can be dangerous. “People should avoid touching or handling a suspected rabid animal, as saliva can transmit the virus through cuts or broken skin,” he said.