North Carolina health officials are advising individuals who came into contact with baby goats from a mobile petting zoo to seek medical advice due to rabies exposure. Four young goats from Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony, North Carolina, have tested positive for rabies.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) stated that the infected goats may have had direct contact with the public while infectious. The affected animals were from Farm Adventures, which operates off-site events across multiple counties. Anyone who touched baby goats from this petting zoo, either at its Harmony location or at an off-site event between July 28 and August 27, should contact their local health department to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary.
Farm Adventures confirmed in a Facebook statement that four of its baby goats had contracted rabies and that the animals have since been euthanized to prevent further spread. The petting zoo identified the goats as Molly, Maggie, Cow, and Uno. According to Farm Adventures, the goats were housed in a separate pen and were too young to be vaccinated when a skunk entered their enclosure and potentially bit them. The petting zoo stated that the animals showed no outward signs or symptoms of rabies. One of the goats was sent for a necropsy after its veterinarian investigated its condition, leading to state health officials confirming positive rabies results at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.
Rabies is a viral disease that is typically fatal if untreated. The virus is primarily transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Common carriers of rabies in the U.S. include bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 100,000 Americans receive rabies vaccinations annually following potential exposure. Human rabies infections are rare in the U.S., with no human cases reported in North Carolina since 2011.
Organizers of events where Farm Adventures appeared are being notified. The NCDHHS indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and more information regarding potential exposure sites will be released as it becomes available.