Nearly 300 people in North Carolina were assessed after contact with rabies-infected goats at a mobile petting zoo. Health officials urged prompt care.
Nearly 300 people checked after goat exposure
A fun day with baby goats has turned into a major health alert in North Carolina.
Nearly 300 people have been assessed after they came into contact with goats from a mobile petting zoo that later tested positive for rabies.
As of Wednesday, local health departments had evaluated 284 people. Some others also spoke directly with health-care providers about their risk.
The goats belonged to Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony, North Carolina.
Goats travelled to events across the state
The animals were taken to at least 10 locations between July 28 and Aug. 27.
The visits included a Masonic picnic, assisted-living centres, a back-to-school event and private gatherings.
As a result, health officials are working to identify people who may have had contact with the goats during that period.
More than 200 people urged to get treatment
Health officials recommended post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, for 213 people who were assessed.
That treatment can prevent rabies from developing when it starts promptly after a possible exposure.
This matters because rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. However, timely treatment can prevent the disease.
Three goats tested positive for rabies
Farm Adventures said four baby goats may have exposed people to the virus.
Tests confirmed rabies in three of them. The farm euthanized the goats and continues to monitor its other animals.
The goats were kept in a separate pen because they were too young for rabies vaccination.
According to the farm’s owner, a wild skunk entered that pen on July 29. The goats did not appear to have obvious bite wounds at the time.
One goat later died on Aug. 19. Another became sick the following day. Those events led to further testing.
Assisted-living residents among those treated
The alert has also affected seniors.
At Jurney’s Assisted Living Home in Statesville, eight residents are receiving rabies treatment after contact with the goats.
The facility said health officials are providing follow-up doses on site. That approach means residents do not need to travel for every appointment.
The facility has also decided it will no longer host farm animals.
North Carolina has rabies cases every year
Rabies is not new to North Carolina.
The state’s health department says about 300 animals test positive for rabies each year. Most are wild animals.
In 2025, more than 4,000 animals were tested across the state. About 6% tested positive.
Still, health officials say they are prepared to respond and have enough PEP available for people who need it.
What people who had contact should do
Anyone who touched or handled the baby goats during the possible exposure period should contact their local health department or health-care provider.
People should not wait for symptoms before seeking advice.
Rabies can be prevented after an exposure, but treatment needs to begin promptly. Therefore, anyone who may have been exposed should get medical guidance as soon as possible.
For now, health officials continue to track possible exposures and assess people who may have come into contact with the infected goats.
