North Carolina mother warns parents after mobile petting zoo goats test positive for rabies
A mother who hired a mobile petting zoo for her children's birthdays was alerted by health officials that the goats had been exposed to rabies, prompting her to advise other parents to consider vaccination.
A mother in Statesville hired Farm Adventures Mobile Petting Zoo for her 9-year-old and 4-year-old's birthday celebrations. Days after the event, the North Carolina health department contacted her to inform that the goats used at the party had tested positive for rabies following exposure to a skunk that entered their enclosure.
State officials said four goats from the company may have been exposed between July 28 and Aug. 27 and could have had direct contact with people during that period. The company's owner reported that all animals and staff received rabies boosters.
"I told her, for my peace of mind, and your peace of mind, go get vaccinated, and for any parent that has any question, I highly recommend them to go get vaccinated," the mother said.
North Carolina has not recorded a human rabies case since 2011. Officials advise anyone who believes they may have been exposed to contact their local county health department.