A recent incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district has raised questions about whether rabies can spread through milk and dairy products. Around 450 people received anti-rabies vaccinations after consuming charanamrit, a religious offering prepared with milk from a cow that later died amid suspicions of rabies.
The incident occurred in Dadi Khas village in the Gola area of Gorakhpur. The cow reportedly displayed unusual behaviour before dying, and veterinarians suspected that it might have been bitten by a stray dog. However, rabies was not officially confirmed in the animal, according to media reports.
The episode has prompted questions about the safety of milk, curd, buttermilk and other dairy products—and whether consuming them can expose people to rabies.
Can Rabies Spread Through Milk or Dairy Products?
According to India's National Rabies Control Programme, there are no laboratory or epidemiological findings demonstrating transmission of rabies through the consumption of milk or milk products.
The programme states that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is not required solely because someone has consumed milk or milk products from a rabies-infected animal. However, it also strongly discourages consuming milk or meat from an animal known or suspected to have rabies.
Rabies is primarily transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a bite, scratch, broken skin or mucous membranes, such as those of the eyes, nose or mouth.
This distinction is important: consuming dairy products is not an established route of rabies transmission, but direct exposure to potentially infected saliva requires prompt medical assessment.
What Happened in Gorakhpur?
According to reports published on October 22, approximately 450 residents from Dadi Khas and neighbouring Govindpur received anti-rabies vaccinations after consuming charanamrit prepared from the cow's milk.
The animal had reportedly become unwell before its condition deteriorated. Its owner consulted veterinarians, who suspected a possible dog bite. The cow subsequently died, triggering concern among residents who had consumed the offering during Durga Puja.
Reports also indicated that the milk had been supplied to local shops and households, adding to residents' concerns.
The health department organised a vaccination camp after villagers sought medical assistance. The vaccinations were administered as a precaution amid fears about possible exposure; the reports did not establish that the cow had rabies or that consumption of the offering had caused any human infections.
Does Boiling Milk Eliminate Rabies Risk?
Heating milk appropriately is an important food-safety measure. However, consumers should not rely on boiling as a substitute for professional advice when dealing with milk from an animal suspected of having a serious infection.
India's National Rabies Control Programme advises against consuming milk from rabid animals, even though milk consumption is not an established route of rabies transmission. If someone may have had direct contact with an infected animal's saliva—for example, through broken skin or the eyes, nose or mouth—they should seek urgent medical evaluation.
For everyday dairy safety, consumers should choose milk from reliable sources and follow appropriate pasteurisation, storage and handling practices. Milk from a sick or suspected rabid animal should not be consumed.
What About Curd, Buttermilk and Other Dairy Products?
The official guidance does not identify curd, buttermilk or other dairy products as established routes of rabies transmission through consumption.
However, this should not be interpreted as a recommendation to consume dairy products made from milk obtained from a suspected rabid animal. The National Rabies Control Programme specifically discourages consuming milk from such animals.
Consumers should also distinguish between the rabies question and general food hygiene. Improperly handled or contaminated dairy products may pose other food-safety risks unrelated to rabies.
For dairy processors and food businesses, the incident reinforces the importance of sourcing milk from healthy animals, maintaining hygiene throughout the supply chain and communicating risks using evidence-based information.
When Should Someone Seek Medical Advice?
Anyone concerned about possible rabies exposure should consult a healthcare professional promptly.
Medical assessment is particularly important if an animal's saliva may have contacted broken skin, the eyes, the nose or the mouth, or if a person was bitten or scratched.
The National Rabies Control Programme recommends immediate, thorough washing of bites and scratches with soap and running water for 15 minutes, followed by prompt medical evaluation. Healthcare professionals can determine whether vaccination or other post-exposure treatment is required.
People who have only consumed milk or dairy products should discuss any specific concerns with a healthcare professional or local health authority rather than assuming that vaccination is automatically required.
What This Means for India's Dairy Industry
The Gorakhpur incident highlights two important priorities for the dairy sector: food safety and accurate risk communication.
Milk quality depends on responsible sourcing, animal health monitoring, hygienic processing and appropriate storage. At the same time, public communication must distinguish between established transmission routes and unconfirmed fears.
For dairy businesses, spreading inaccurate claims about rabies and dairy products could undermine consumer confidence. Equally, dismissing concerns about milk from a sick animal would be irresponsible.
Rabies transmission through the consumption of milk or dairy products is not supported by laboratory or epidemiological evidence, according to India's National Rabies Control Programme. Nevertheless, milk from a suspected rabid animal should not be consumed, and potential direct exposure to infected saliva requires urgent medical assessment.
Source: Read full story here 22 Oct, 2026 Edited and Reported by
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