Panic has swept through Pipraul village in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, leading to a frantic rush for anti-rabies vaccinations. The alarm was triggered after a buffalo, whose milk was used to prepare a dish for a large community gathering, died days later, allegedly after being bitten by a stray dog.
The Source of the Panic
The chain of events began last Tuesday at a Tehrai ceremony held for a late resident, Oran Sahu. The ceremony, attended by hundreds from Pipraul and neighbouring areas, featured a raita dish. This raita was prepared using milk from a buffalo owned by the deceased's cousin. Three days after the ceremony, that very buffalo died.
Local villagers linked the animal's death to a purported bite from a stray dog. Fearing that rabies could have been transmitted through the consumed milk, widespread anxiety took hold. An emergency village meeting was convened, following which residents collectively decided to seek anti-rabies vaccines as a precaution.
Medical Response and Vaccination Drive
The local health machinery swiftly responded to the developing situation. A medical team was deployed to the village to assess the scenario and counsel the residents. However, the fear proved potent.
Deepak Kumar, husband of village pradhan Renu Devi, reported that more than 200 villagers had received anti-rabies injections since December 26. He stated that many residents were not clearly informed that rabies is not transmitted through the consumption of milk from an infected animal. The unavailability of the stray dog in question and the burial of the buffalo without a post-mortem examination further fueled uncertainty.
Official figures from health authorities corroborate the scale of the response. Dr. Sarvesh Kumar, Superintendent of the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ujhani, Badaun, said, "In the last two days, around 250 people from Pipraul village received doses of the anti-rabies vaccine at our centre. On Friday alone, 110 people were administered the injection." Medical officers, including Dr. Mahesh Pratap, confirmed that people were approaching health facilities out of fear of possible exposure.
A Recurring Fear and Calls for Calm
Health officials are continuously working to dispel myths and calm the villagers. Dr. Sarvesh Kumar has been actively urging people not to panic, emphasizing the actual transmission routes of rabies. This incident is not isolated in the region. In a similar event in November, several residents of a Gorakhpur village also rushed for anti-rabies shots after consuming prasad made from the milk of a cow that died from a suspected dog bite.
The episode highlights the critical need for sustained public health education in rural areas, especially concerning zoonotic diseases. Pipraul village, with a population of approximately 1,800 predominantly from backward classes, is now grappling with the aftermath of the scare, even as medical teams assure them of their safety.
