Can people become infected with rabies by drinking unpasteurized milk?
In theory, it is possible for someone to become infected with rabies by drinking raw milk from an infected animal. However, no human or animal has ever been reported to develop rabies in this manner. Rabies is transmitted by direct contact with infected material (such as saliva from an infected animal) into an open wound or mucous membranes (such as the eyes or mouth). Several studies have shown that animals fed infectious brain tissue developed rabies. It was unclear, however, if the infection was caused by prolonged contact with mucous membranes in the mouth or if the virus was accidentally inhaled, causing the animals to be infected via the nose rather than the mouth. It is important to know that milk that has been heat pasteurized presents no risk for rabies virus transmission.
