Home / Health / Rabies Scare: NC Goat Zoo Exposes Hundreds
Rabies Scare: NC Goat Zoo Exposes Hundreds
5 Sep
Summary
- Hundreds evaluated for rabies after contact with baby goats.
- 213 people recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis treatment.
- Wild skunk suspected as source of rabies in North Carolina goats.
Local health departments in North Carolina have evaluated hundreds of individuals for rabies exposure following contact with baby goats from a mobile petting zoo. As of Wednesday, 284 people were assessed, with 213 recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The goats, owned by Farm Adventures, visited at least 10 locations across the state between July 28 and August 27. A wild skunk is believed to have exposed the goats, leading to the virus detection in three of them after one died and another fell ill.
Rabies is preventable with prompt PEP, which typically involves wound care and a series of vaccine doses. The state health department confirmed it is well-prepared to manage such exposures, with adequate prophylaxis supplies available. Health authorities and the CDC coordinated efforts to identify and advise those potentially exposed.
