A strange case from Delhi NCR’s Greater Noida has shocked everyone. As per reports, a woman residing in Greater Noida succumbed to rabies after contracting the infection via cow milk. The reports have said that the cow had rabies after being bitten by a stray dog.
While few people from the nearby area sought rabies vaccination, the woman did not take precaution. A few days after consuming the milk she developed symptoms. “In a desperate attempt to save her, family members rushed her to multiple hospitals, but she was repeatedly turned away. Eventually, doctors at the district hospital advised them to take her home. She died shortly after,” News18 reported.
Can rabies spread through milk?
“Milk of rabid animal (cows and buffaloes) has rabies virus. If such milk is consumed without boiling, there is a risk,” says a report by ICAR. The report categorises “Person drinking unboiled milk” as category 1 based on risk of rabies. Other incidents put under this category are getting licked by an infected animal, getting lick on intact mucous membrane –mouth, nose, anus, genitalia and conjunctiva and getting bitten without blood. “Classification of patients according to the nature of the bite is very important. The decision for treatment, post bite AR Vaccination and administering of immunoglobulin are decided basing on the classification. Depending on severity, the patients are classified in to three Categories viz., Category I, Category II and Category III. Vaccination is indicated for Category II and III patients,” the report says.
“The rabies virus infects the brain. Once the rabies virus reaches the brain and symptoms begin to show, at this stage the infection is virtually untreatable and usually fatal within days and death results,” ICAR says.
Symptoms of rabies
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that affects the nervous system, usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. The symptoms can take weeks to months to appear, but once they do, the disease is almost always fatal.
In the beginning, rabies symptoms can seem mild and flu-like. The infected person may experience fever, headache, weakness, and general discomfort. Some may feel itching, tingling, or burning near the bite wound, which is an early warning sign.
As the virus spreads to the brain, neurological symptoms appear. These include anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, aggression, and difficulty swallowing. One of the most well-known signs is hydrophobia (fear of water), where swallowing becomes painful, causing excessive drooling. Some people develop paralysis or become extremely restless.
In the last phase, the infection leads to coma, respiratory failure, and ultimately death. Once symptoms appear, rabies has no cure, which is why immediate vaccination after a bite is crucial.