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Possible rabies exposure has been traced to baby goats from a mobile petting zoo that hosted multiple events across the state, including in Durham County
On Saturday, the Durham County Department of Public Health and the state Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is investigating the potential exposure tied to the Farm Adventures Mobile Petting Zoo. Health officials report that multiple baby goats from the petty zoo tested positive for the rabies virus
Authorities are concerned that the infected animals may have come into contact with the public at the zoo’s main location in Harmony, N.C., about two hours from the Triangle
According to NCDHHS, the affected baby goats, the only animals involved in the current investigation, were not present at any public events within Durham County. However, attendees of private events in Durham County where affected goats were present will be contacted by health officials within 48 hours
The state says the private events in Durham County were held on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23
The risk extends outside of Durham, as the petting zoo traveled to other North Carolina counties between July 28 and Aug. 27
Anyone who interacted with the baby goats at events in these areas during this timeframe is urged to contact their local health department to assess their risk and determine if preventative medial care is necessary
What is rabies?
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that is most often found in the state’s wild animal populations, like skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. The virus can spread from wild animals to pets, livestock and humans
Key facts about the disease include:
Transmission: Rabies is mainly spread through a bite, scratch, or when infected saliva touches broken skin
What’s safe: The virus is not transmitted through contaminated objects, clothes or bedding. There are also no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission.
Symptoms: Early signs of the disease are flu-like symptoms, like weakness, headache, fever, and a distinct prickling or itching sensation at the site of the bite or exposure. Symptoms can take weeks to months to develop
Next steps
Public health officials urge anyone who believes they may have been exposed to check the NCDHHS website for a full list of known exposure locations and contact information for local health departments
Local updates specific to the Durham investigation will continue to be posted at dcopublichealth.org/news
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