North Carolina health officials warn of rabies exposure after petting-zoo goats test positive
Four baby goats used at a mobile petting zoo in Iredell County tested positive for rabies, prompting health agencies to advise anyone who may have contacted the animals to contact local health departments.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that three of four baby goats at Farm Adventures in Harmony tested positive for rabies, with a fourth presumed infected. The animals are believed to have contracted the virus after a skunk entered their pen in late July. NCDHHS and the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are coordinating with local health departments to identify potential exposure dates and locations.
People who may have handled the goats at the mobile petting-zoo site in Harmony or at any off-site events between July 28 and August 27 are advised to contact their local health department for a risk assessment and possible post-exposure treatment. Known exposure sites include assisted-living facilities, community events, and private gatherings across several counties.
"Anyone who believes they had contact with the baby goats should call their local health department to determine what medication may be needed," NCDHHS officials said.
The agency noted that human rabies cases are rare in the United States and that North Carolina has not recorded a human case since 2011. An investigation remains ongoing, and event organizers are being contacted to notify attendees.