North Carolina warns visitors to contact health officials after four baby goats at travelling petting zoo test positive for rabies

Four baby goats — Molly, Maggie, Cow and Uno — belonging to Farm Adventures travelling petting zoo were found to be rabies-positive after a skunk got into their enclosure in Iredell County. The animals were too young to have been vaccinated when the skunk bit them and displayed no symptoms while members of the public were handling them. Health officials warn that events held across multiple counties between July 28 and August 27 may have put children and elderly visitors at risk of exposure.

The four infected goats have been euthanised; Farm Adventures says no other animals are affected and the remainder are being monitored under official guidelines.

Anyone who touched, handled or fed baby goats at Farm Adventures events in Durham, Rowan, Watauga and Burke counties, or at venues in Statesville, Lexington and Mocksville, is urged to get in touch with their local health department without delay.

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear but post-exposure treatment is highly effective — officials urge potential contacts not to wait for symptoms before seeking help.