The deadly plague sweeping Madagascar may have a particularly gruesome cause — a local tradition of dancing with dead bodies.

Health officials suspect it’s no coincidence that the outbreak — which has infected more than 1,100 people and killed 124 since August — coincides with the time of year when families customarily exhume the remains of dead relatives, wrap them in a sheet, and dance with them through the streets in a sacred ritual, AFP reports.

“If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for [the ritual], the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body,” said Willy Randriamarotia, Madagascar’s health ministry chief of staff.

But some locals believe the whole plague is a government conspiracy, and say they have no intention of forgoing the ritual — known as “famadihana” and intended to honor their ancestors.

“I will always practice the turning of the bones of my ancestors — plague or no plague. The plague is a lie,” Helene Raveloharisoa told the wire service.

Josephine Ralisiarisoa believes the country’s cash-strapped government is just exaggerating the problem to get money ahead of an election next year.

“I have participated in at least 15 famadihana ceremonies in my life. And I’ve never caught the plague,” she told the AFP.