MP govt orders mass rabies vaccination after guests consume infected 'chhas'
Chhindwara, May 8
A wedding celebration in Bhaisadand village of Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh turned into a health emergency when it was discovered that guests had consumed chhas - a dairy product prepared from the milk of a cow infected with rabies.
The incident has caused widespread panic and prompted the Health Department to launch an urgent vaccination drive.
All the participants of the marriage ceremony who consumed the suspicious chhas have been identified.
Traditional food arrangements at the ceremony included curd and buttermilk, which were unknowingly made from the milk of the sick cow, government sources informed. However, officials evaded direct replies.
Soon after the feast, villagers learned that the cow had been bitten by a rabid dog days earlier and had begun showing clear symptoms of rabies.
The revelation spread fear among the guests and the community, given the fatal nature of the disease.
The district health administration responded swiftly by setting up an emergency medical camp at the Bhaisadand Sub-Health Centre.
Doctors immediately began identifying individuals who had consumed the contaminated dairy products.
More than 200 people have already been administered anti-rabies injections, and health workers are conducting door-to-door visits to trace others who may have been exposed.
Officials emphasised that the rapid response was crucial to avert any potential outbreak and to reassure the community.
The incident highlights the grave risks posed by rabies, a disease that remains a public health challenge in rural India.
It also underscores the importance of veterinary vigilance and timely reporting of animal health conditions, especially in villages where dairy products form an integral part of community feasts.
For the families involved, what began as a joyous wedding occasion has now become a reminder of the fragile link between animal health and human safety.
The Health Department continues to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that all possible contacts are vaccinated and that awareness is spread among villagers to prevent similar incidents in the future.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great job by the MP health team – setting up camp and vaccinating 200+ people within hours is commendable. But this is a wake-up call for all of us in rural India. Rabies is still a silent killer. We need mandatory vet checks for dairy animals before any large event. Also, the negligence of the cow owner should be investigated—ignoring a rabid animal is criminal.
Reminds me of my village in Gujarat – same issue last year. People don't understand rabies transmission. Milk from a rabid cow can carry the virus if it's not boiled properly, but still, contamination is rare. Yet, the panic is understandable. Kudos to the district administration for swift action. Let's hope no one develops symptoms. Rabies is 99.9% fatal if untreated.
As someone who worked on public health in rural India, this is both shocking and sadly predictable. Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease. The government needs to step up vaccination of stray dogs and livestock. This wedding could have turned into a mass tragedy. Hats off to the local health workers doing door-to-door visits – they are the real heroes.
Incredible how something as innocent as *chhas* at a wedding can become a health hazard. This is why food safety and animal health are so interconnected. The rapid response is impressive, but I wonder about the long-term vet infrastructure in villages. We need more awareness campaigns about rabies in local languages. Also, sympathies to the families – a wedding should be joy, not fear.
This is why we need stricter enforcement of animal health
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