Health officials are warning people who visited a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina after several baby goats were confirmed to have rabies. The warning applies to individuals who may have touched or held the animals during visits to the facility or its off-site events.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said people who had contact with the affected goats between July 28 and August 27 should contact their local health department as soon as possible. Officials will assess each person’s circumstances and determine whether preventive treatment is necessary.
The goats were associated with Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony, North Carolina. The animals were present at the main location as well as events held in several counties during the potential exposure period. Some of those events involved children and older adults.
Several Baby Goats Confirmed With Rabies
According to health officials, several baby goats tested positive for rabies. The animals may have appeared healthy even while carrying the virus, making the situation particularly concerning for people who handled them.
Farm Adventures said the goats had been kept separately from the other animals. The organization also reported that the goats were too young to receive rabies vaccinations when a skunk entered their enclosure. The animals reportedly showed no obvious signs of the infection before testing was conducted.
The affected goats were euthanized as part of efforts to prevent further spread. Health authorities are continuing to identify locations where people may have encountered the animals and are notifying organizers connected to those events.
What to Do After Possible Rabies Exposure
Rabies is a serious viral infection that can be fatal once symptoms develop. However, infection can generally be prevented when appropriate medical treatment is given promptly following an exposure.
People can be exposed through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Contact with saliva or nervous tissue from an infected animal can also create a potential exposure risk. Pennsylvania health officials, for example, advise washing animal bites or scratches thoroughly with soap and water and seeking medical guidance quickly after a possible exposure.
Anyone who believes they handled one of the affected goats during the specified period should contact their local health department rather than waiting for symptoms to appear. Health professionals can evaluate the nature of the contact and determine whether post-exposure treatment is appropriate.
The incident also serves as a reminder that visitors should follow safety instructions when interacting with animals at petting zoos and agricultural events. While human rabies cases are uncommon, taking potential exposure seriously can be critical because early preventive care can stop the infection before it becomes life-threatening.
