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Her son fed goats at a petting zoo. Now he has to get rabies shots.
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Three baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo tested positive for rabies after being featured at various events, including a dinosaur exhibit in Mocksville, where a 4-year-old boy was exposed.
- The child has begun a six-shot rabies vaccine regimen known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which is nearly 100% effective if administered before symptoms appear.
- The infected goats, too young to be vaccinated, likely contracted rabies from a skunk that entered their pen; the goats have since been euthanized.
- Rabies symptoms can take weeks to months to develop and are almost always fatal once they begin, making timely vaccination critical after exposure.
- North Carolina health officials are coordinating with local agencies to ensure access to rabies treatment for anyone potentially exposed to the infected animals.
