Baby goats with rabies at North Carolina mobile petting zoo prompt calls across multiple counties to contact health officials
Summarized from yahoo.com
Multiple baby goats at a mobile petting zoo operated by Farm Adventures in North Carolina were confirmed to have rabies, prompting health officials to urge anyone who had contact with the animals between July 28 and August 27 to contact local health departments. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified 10 potential exposure sites, including an assisted living facility and a back-to-school event, and advised affected individuals to seek medical evaluation to determine if postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary. Laboratory testing confirmed rabies in three goats, with a fourth presumed infected. Read more
The goats likely contracted the virus from a skunk that entered their pen in late July, according to state health officials. Farm Adventures, based in Iredell County, has cooperated with the investigation, and the owner, Misty Love, stated that the affected goats were euthanized. Health officials emphasize the urgency of seeking medical attention before symptoms appear, as rabies is nearly always fatal once clinical signs manifest. No other animals on the farm are considered a risk for rabies transmission, and officials are working with event organizers to notify attendees who may have been exposed. Read more