Lexington petting zoo rabies warning after goat exposure

Key Points:

• Four baby goats at Farm Adventures petting zoo in Harmony, North Carolina, tested positive for rabies after likely exposure to a skunk in late July, confirmed by the NC State Laboratory of Public Health on August 29.
• Potential human exposure occurred at multiple events between July 28 and August 27 across various counties, including a Community Connections event in Lexington on August 1 where the infected goats were present.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are working with event organizers and local health departments to notify individuals who may have had contact with the goats and advise on preventive treatment.
• Rabies is transmitted through saliva, but human cases are extremely rare in the U.S., with no reported cases in North Carolina since 2011; people exposed are urged to contact their local health department for risk assessment and possible medication.
• A call center was established by the Davidson County Health Department to assist potentially exposed individuals, with specific hours of operation on August 28 and 29, and further updates to be provided as needed.