Petting Zoo Visitors Warned of Potential Rabies Exposure After Multiple Baby Goats Test Positive for the Disease

Multiple baby goats at Farmhouse Adventures petting zoo in Harmony, North Carolina, tested positive for rabies, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on Saturday, Aug. 29.

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Multiple baby goats at Farmhouse Adventures petting zoo in Harmony, North Carolina, tested positive for rabies, according to a new health report

The infected goats have been euthanized to prevent the virus from spreading further

Visitors who may have potentially been exposed between late July and late August are urged to seek medical evaluation

North Carolina petting zoo visitors are being urged to visit their healthcare providers after several baby goats tested positive for rabies.

On Saturday, Aug. 29, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced in a press release that four baby goats were exposed to the viral disease at Farmhouse Adventures mobile petting zoo in Iredell County.

“NCDHHS and the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services were first notified of a potential rabies exposure among four baby goats at Farm Adventures on Aug. 27,” the NCDHHS said. “The goats were most likely exposed to rabies by a skunk that had entered the pen where they were kept in late July.”

“The NC State Laboratory of Public Health confirmed rabies virus in three of the baby goats on Aug. 28; a fourth goat was not tested but is also assumed to have been infected,” the statement continued.

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No other animals on the farm pose a risk of rabies exposure to people, according to NCDHHS.

Farmhouse Adventures confirmed in a Facebook post on Saturday, Aug. 28, that the goats — named Molly, Maggie, Cow and Uno — were euthanized to prevent the disease from spreading further.

“We want to be transparent about this distressing event. The affected animals, our four precious baby goats, have been euthanized to prevent further spread,” the zoo continued. “We will be closely monitoring our remaining animals under the guidelines provided by health officials.”

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Farmhouse Adventures explained that the baby goats “encountered a skunk in their pen” that bit them and that they weren’t aware at the time, as they “showed no signs or symptoms of rabies.”

“The baby goats were kept in a separate pen, away from the others, and were too young to receive their vaccinations,” said the petting zoo. “We unfortunately encountered a skunk in their pen, which we promptly removed and disposed of. However, during this process, the skunk was able to bite the goats.”

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Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is spread through bites and scratches of infected animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus was potentially exposed across 10 locations from July 28 to Aug. 23, the NCDHHS said, per the release.

“We are working closely with public health officials, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and animal control to address this issue and ensure the safety of our animals and clients,” Farmhouse Adventures added on Facebook.

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