Fear has swept through Sarganwa village in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district after a community ritual feast involved meat from a goat that had reportedly been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies. The incident, which occurred during a traditional ceremony, has prompted urgent medical intervention and raised serious questions about local oversight.
The Ritual and the Rabid Bite
The unsettling event took place on December 28 during 'Nikali Puja,' a local ceremony held once every three years. As part of the customs, animal sacrifice is performed. This year, between 12 to 15 goats were sacrificed, and their meat was distributed in a community feast attended by approximately 400 villagers.
Unbeknownst to most attendees, one of the goats had allegedly been bitten earlier by what locals described as a "mad dog," suspected to be infected with rabies. The goat was purchased from villager Nanhhu Rajwade by the village sarpanch Narayan Prasad and deputy sarpanch Krishna Singh specifically for the ritual. Residents later claimed they were not informed about the animal's prior injury before consuming the meat.
Panic, Promises, and a Medical Response
Once the information about the goat's condition became public, panic gripped the village. Villager Tapan Mistri voiced the community's anxiety, stating that while local leaders and panchayat officials assured them that properly cooked meat would be harmless, the fear of potential infection remained high.
As concerns escalated, the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch alerted health authorities. The district administration directed the health department to intervene. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr P S Marko confirmed that a meeting was held with village representatives, leading to a decision to set up a medical camp.
A health camp is scheduled to be organized in Sarganwa on December 31. Here, all villagers who consumed the meat will be examined and provided with further medical advice or preventive treatment if deemed necessary by doctors.
Expert Opinion on Transmission Risk
Amid the widespread fear, a local veterinary expert offered a calming perspective. Dr Chandu Mishra explained that rabies is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, typically via a bite. He clarified that the rabies virus generally does not survive high cooking temperatures.
Therefore, the risk of contracting rabies from eating thoroughly cooked meat from an exposed animal is considered very low. However, Dr Mishra emphasized that as a precautionary measure, a medical examination for those who ate the meat is still advisable. It is also noted that, as per tradition, only men partake in the meat offered as 'prasad' during this specific puja, meaning the potentially affected group is largely adult males.
While medical experts attempt to allay fears with science, a palpable sense of anger simmers in Sarganwa. Villagers are demanding accountability from their local leaders for allowing a potentially compromised animal to enter the food chain of a massive community feast, turning a sacred ritual into a public health scare.
