How a Funeral Meal Triggered a Rabies Scare in a UP Village, Sending Nearly 200 for Vaccination

Budaun, Uttar Pradesh — Panic gripped Piprauli village after a routine funeral meal unexpectedly sparked fears of rabies exposure, prompting nearly 200 villagers to seek anti-rabies vaccination as a precautionary measure.

The incident traces back to a terahvi (13th-day death ritual) held in the village last week, where food including raita was served to mourners. According to local residents, the curd used in the raita was prepared from the milk of a buffalo that later fell ill and died. The animal had reportedly been bitten by a stray dog days earlier, raising suspicions among villagers that it might have contracted rabies.

As news of the buffalo’s death spread, anxiety quickly escalated. Fearing that the rabies virus could have been transmitted through food, villagers rushed to nearby government health facilities, demanding immediate vaccination. Local health centres witnessed long queues as people sought reassurance and preventive treatment.

Health officials, however, were quick to clarify that the vaccination drive was undertaken purely as a precaution and not because of confirmed exposure.

Rabies is primarily transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal entering the body through broken skin or mucous membranes,” a senior district health official said. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that rabies spreads through cooked food, boiled milk, curd, or raita.

Despite repeated assurances, authorities decided to administer anti-rabies vaccines to all those who requested them, citing the need to address public fear and ensure mental reassurance. “In public health, perception matters. When people are anxious, preventive steps help restore confidence.

Medical teams also monitored villagers for symptoms and conducted awareness sessions to dispel myths surrounding rabies transmission. So far, no symptoms of rabies have been reported in any individual connected to the incident.

Experts stressed that while rabies remains a fatal disease if left untreated, it does not spread through food or dairy products. “The virus does not survive cooking or fermentation. Such incidents highlight the need for better public awareness about zoonotic diseases,” a government epidemiologist noted.

District officials have since launched a stray dog surveillance and vaccination drive in nearby areas to prevent similar scares in the future. The situation in Piprauli village is now described as stable and under control, though the incident has underscored how misinformation can quickly turn into mass panic.