Anyone who recently held, fed or cuddled baby goats from a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina may have been exposed to rabies. Three of the goats tested positive, while a fourth was not tested but is assumed to have been infected.
The goats came from Farm Adventures in Harmony, North Carolina. They were also taken to several public and private events across the state between July 28 and Aug. 27.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services believes a skunk entered the goats’ pen in late July and exposed them to the virus. Farm Adventures said the goats were too young to receive rabies vaccinations and showed no symptoms.
The four goats, named Molly, Maggie, Cow and Uno, were euthanized (as reported on a Facebook post that is on longer available). Based on the information gathered on Aug. 28, health officials determined that no other animals at the farm pose a rabies exposure risk to people.
The Goats Visited Events in Seven Counties
NCDHHS has identified 10 potential exposure events in seven counties. The list includes assisted living facilities in Statesville, a back-to-school event in Lexington and a community event at the Masonic Picnic Grounds in Mocksville.
The goats also attended private events in Mecklenburg, Watauga, Burke, Durham and Iredell counties. Public health workers are contacting organizers and attendees who may have interacted with the animals.
Anyone who visited Farm Adventures or came into contact with its baby goats at an event between July 28 and Aug. 27 should contact their local health department.
The Goats May Not Have Looked Sick
Rabies can spread through a bite or scratch. It can also spread if saliva from an infected animal gets into someone’s eyes, nose or mouth or touches broken skin.
The risk of catching rabies from livestock is lower than the risk from a wild animal bite. However, baby goats are often bottle-fed, carried and cuddled, which could bring people into contact with their saliva. Human rabies is extremely rare in the United States, and North Carolina has not reported a human case since 2011.
If You Were Exposed, Call Before Going to Urgent Care or the ER
NCDHHS is asking anyone who may have been exposed to call their local health department before visiting an emergency room or urgent care clinic. This way, staff can evaluate the person’s risk and explain whether preventive medication is needed before exposing others.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented when treatment starts before that happens. Symptoms can take weeks or months to appear, so people should not wait until they feel sick before calling.