Goat bitten by rabid dog sacrificed, meat served to 400 in Surguja dist

Raipur: Panic has spread through Sarganwa village in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district after a goat, allegedly bitten by a rabies-infected dog, was sacrificed during a traditional ritual and its meat consumed by around 400 villagers.The incident occurred on December 28 during Nikali Puja, a ritual held once every three years to worship local deities, where animal sacrifice is customary.This year, 12–15 goats were sacrificed and their meat distributed as a community feast. However, villagers later claimed that one of the goats had earlier been bitten by a "mad dog" suspected to be rabid. Once this information surfaced, fear quickly gripped the village."Officials told us that nothing will happen if the meat was cooked properly. But what if something does happen?" asked villager Tapan Mistri, echoing the anxiety felt by many.Only adult men consume the meat offered during the puja, locals said, making them the primary group at risk. Villagers alleged they were initially not informed about the goat's suspected exposure to rabies.The animal had reportedly been bought from a local resident by the village sarpanch and deputy sarpanch and later sacrificed as part of the ritual. Initially, residents alleged that they were not told the goat had been bitten by a suspected rabid dog.As panic mounted, village leaders informed the health authorities. Residents are now demanding accountability and immediate medical intervention.Health camp to be held:Chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr P S Marko said the health department has been directed to act swiftly. A medical camp will be organised in the village on December 31 to examine those who consumed the meat and advise further treatment or preventive measures if required.‘Rabies unlikely from cooked meat,' says vet:Amid the fear, veterinarians have tried to reassure villagers. Dr Chandu Mishra, a govt veterinarian, explained that rabies is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually via bites."If the meat is thoroughly cooked at high temperatures, the rabies virus does not survive. The risk of infection through cooked meat is extremely low," he said, adding that medical monitoring is still advisable as a precaution. Bareilly incident adds to fear:The scare has revived memories of a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, where a buffalo died after being bitten by a rabid dog. Panic had erupted after it emerged that raita (a side dish) from yogurt made from that buffalo's milk had been consumed, raising fears among people who had prepared dishes using it. Health officials later stepped in to calm fears, stating the risk was minimal, but the episode left lasting anxiety.For now, fear and anger coexist in Sarganwa. While medical experts say the chances of rabies transmission are negligible if meat is properly cooked, villagers are questioning why an animal suspected of rabies exposure was allowed to be part of a community feast at all.