Rowan County Public Health began alerting residents over the weekend of a potential rabies exposure linked to a mobile petting zoo after the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed multiple cases of rabies in baby goats associated with Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Iredell County.
Accoding to a release from RCPH, several baby goats tested positive for rabies through the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.
“Public Health is concerned some of these animals may have had direct contact with members of the public while infectious,” the release said. “Public health officials are working with event organizers to identify potential exposure locations. Rowan County does not have confirmed exposure locations within the county as of today. Rowan County Public Health will share updates as information is available.”
The release urges anyone that visited Farm Adventures either at the petting zoo’s location in Harmony or at an off-site event between July 28 and Aug. 27 and touched, handled, fed or otherwise had direct contact with baby goats please contact Rowan County Public Health at 704-305-8636 to discuss the potential exposure and appropriate follow up recommendations.
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the brain and nervous system. It is typically spread through bites or scratches from infected animals or when infected saliva comes into contact with broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal; however, prompt medical treatment after exposure is highly effective at preventing illness.
Early signs of rabies may include fever, headache, fatigue and tingling or irritation at the site of exposure. Symptoms may appear weeks to months after infection.
Residents who believe they may have been exposed should not wait for symptoms to develop. Contact your health care provider or Rowan County Public Health for guidance.
For more information about rabies, visit the NCDHHS Rabies Control Program webpage by clicking on the link in the online version of this article.
