Woman dies of rabies after drinking infected cow’s milk in Greater Noida; here's all you need to know

The cow had given birth to a calf two months earlier, and its milk was regularly consumed by both the family and other villagers. Once the infection was confirmed, at least ten villagers sought post-exposure rabies vaccinations, according to sources cited by News18.

What is rabies?

According to Dr Srinivas Janam, consultant physician at DHEE Hospitals, rabies is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus—a member of the Lyssavirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family.

"It affects the central nervous system (CNS), leading to progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord," he says, adding, "Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. The virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, commonly dogs, but also bats, foxes, raccoons and other mammals."

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Does cow milk contain rabies virus?

According to an ICAR report, the milk of rabid animals such as cows and buffaloes can contain the rabies virus. Consuming such milk without boiling poses a potential risk of infection.

The report classifies 'drinking unboiled milk' as a Category I exposure risk for rabies. Other actions under this category include being licked by an infected animal, having a rabid animal’s saliva come into contact with intact mucous membranes (such as the mouth, nose, anus, genitals, or eyes), and experiencing bites that do not draw blood.

The classification of patients based on the type of exposure is crucial in determining treatment. Post-exposure anti-rabies (AR) vaccination and immunoglobulin administration are recommended based on the severity of exposure. Patients are categorised into three groups: Category I, Category II, and Category III, with vaccination required for those in Categories II and III, ICAR noted.

However, Dr Janam explains under normal circumstances, cow milk does not contain the rabies virus. Only in extremely rare and unlikely cases where a cow is infected with rabies—particularly in the late stages of the disease—the virus may be present in secretions, including saliva or possibly milk. "Nonetheless, rabies is not considered a foodborne disease and transmission via milk—especially pasteurised milk—has not been documented in scientific literature."

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain that ingestion of raw milk from a rabid animal may pose a theoretical risk but is not a confirmed transmission route.

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Symptoms and treatment

Rabies symptoms may take weeks or even months to develop, but their onset signals that the disease is progressing toward a fatal outcome.

In the early stages, symptoms are often mild and resemble the flu.

"An infected person may experience fever, headache, weakness, general discomfort, and sensations like itching, tingling, or burning around the bite site," explains Dr Janam. He adds, "In the final stage, the infection causes coma, respiratory failure, and ultimately leads to death."

Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost universally fatal. Therefore, there is no curative treatment after the onset of symptoms.

"The only established approach is supportive care in intensive settings, which includes managing respiratory failure and seizures," Dr Janam says.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.