The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has issued an urgent public health warning after multiple baby goats at a mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies according to state health officials. The animals belonged to Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony, North Carolina, and may have interacted directly with the public while infectious.
State and local health authorities are urging anyone who came into contact with baby goats from the Farm Adventures mobile petting zoo—either at their Iredell County home location or at off-site gatherings—between July 28 and August 27, 2026, to immediately contact their local health department. Officials emphasize that timely medical evaluation is critical to determine whether preventive post-exposure treatments are necessary.
Timeline of Exposures and Regional Impact
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Farm Adventures petting zoo traveled extensively for off-site events between July 28 and August 27, 2026. These public appearances frequently involved vulnerable populations, including young children and elderly individuals, across multiple regional counties.
Event organizers who booked the mobile petting zoo during this timeframe are actively being notified by public health workers. Because the investigation remains ongoing, state officials plan to release additional details regarding specific public event locations and exact exposure dates as soon as verification is complete.
The animals in question were tested by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, which confirmed the positive rabies diagnoses. Historical data from the laboratory indicates that out of more than 4,000 animals submitted for rabies testing in 2025, approximately 6% tested positive, with the virus appearing most frequently in wild populations such as skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes.
Understanding the Health Risks of Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal in mammals, including humans, once clinical symptoms begin to manifest. Transmission typically occurs when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a fresh bite, a scratch, or direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes.
While human rabies infections remain extremely rare in the United States—with North Carolina reporting no human cases since 2011—preventive medications must be administered before symptoms develop to be effective. Early signs of infection often mimic a typical flu-like illness, including fever, weakness, or headaches, accompanied by an unusual itching or prickling sensation near the exposure site weeks or months after the initial contact.
Next Steps for Potentially Exposed Individuals
Public health agencies advise anyone who attended an event featuring the Farm Adventures baby goats during the affected dates to reach out to their county health department without delay. Medical professionals will assess the nature of the contact to decide if a series of preventive rabies vaccinations is warranted.
Authorities will continue updating the public as contact-tracing efforts expand and more exposure sites are identified. Anyone seeking additional guidance or educational resources can visit the official North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services portal.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this report is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal medical or public health advice. If you suspect you have been exposed to rabies, contact a healthcare professional or local health department immediately.
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