In a precautionary health response, nearly 200 residents of Piprauli village in Uttar Pradesh's Budaun district were administered anti-rabies vaccines. This action followed the alarming discovery that a traditional dish served at a funeral was prepared using milk from a buffalo that later died of suspected rabies.
Timeline of a Village Health Scare
The incident traces back to December 23, when a funeral ceremony was held in the village. As part of the rituals, raita—a yogurt-based side dish—was served to attendees. The milk used to prepare this raita came from a local buffalo.
A few days later, a troubling piece of information came to light. The same buffalo had reportedly been bitten by a dog earlier. The animal's condition deteriorated, and it eventually died on December 26. This death triggered immediate panic among the villagers who had consumed the raita, over fears of a potential rabies infection.
Swift Medical Response and Official Statements
Acting on their fears, a large group of villagers promptly approached the Ujhani Community Health Centre seeking medical intervention. The health authorities swung into action.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rameshwar Mishra addressed the situation on Sunday. He confirmed that authorities received information indicating the buffalo had been bitten by a rabid dog and had shown symptoms consistent with rabies before its demise. Upon learning that villagers had consumed raita made from its milk, a decision was made to vaccinate.
"Prevention is better than cure," stated Dr. Mishra. "Everyone who had any doubts was given the anti-rabies vaccine. Normally, there is no risk of rabies after boiling the milk, but the vaccination was done to prevent any potential risk."
To facilitate this mass vaccination, the primary health centre and community health centre were kept open on both Saturday and Sunday. The CMO emphasized that anyone who approached the Ujhani centre was immediately given the vaccine.
Calm Restored, Situation Under Monitoring
The health department has assured the public that no disease has spread in the village so far and that the situation is completely normal. However, as a measure of abundant caution, the village is being closely monitored to prevent the spread of rumours or unnecessary panic.
Villager Dharmpal recounted the chain of events, explaining that the buffalo fell ill and died after being bitten by a dog. The fear stemmed directly from the fact that the raita was made from that specific animal's milk, leading the community to seek the protective rabies injections.
This incident highlights the swift response mechanisms of rural healthcare systems in Uttar Pradesh when faced with potential public health threats, even those perceived through indirect transmission routes.
