North Carolina health authorities are warning residents to come forward if they recently handled baby goats at a traveling petting zoo, after multiple animals were confirmed to have rabies.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the rabid goats were connected to Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo operating out of Harmony, North Carolina, that brought animals to events in several counties.
State officials say anyone who touched baby goats from Farm Adventures—whether at the Harmony site or during an off-site event held between July 28 and Aug. 27—should reach out to their local health department to find out if preventive rabies treatment is recommended.
NCDHHS noted that, during that timeframe, Farm Adventures appeared at multiple off-site gatherings that included children and older adults, two groups officials are now working to identify as part of the rabies exposure investigation.
The agency said event organizers are being contacted as the investigation continues, and more details about possible rabies exposure locations will be shared as they become available.
In a Facebook statement, Farm Adventures said four of its baby goats had contracted rabies and that the animals had been euthanized to prevent further spread.
The petting zoo identified the goats as Molly, Maggie, Cow and Uno.
“We are working closely with public health officials, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and animal control to address this issue and ensure the safety of our animals and clients,” Farm Adventures said.
READ MORE: Bill Maher Says He Was Wrong About Trump in Surprising Reversal
According to Farm Adventures, the baby goats were housed in a separate pen away from the other animals at the petting zoo.
The four goats were too young to receive their vaccinations when a skunk entered their pen, according to Farm Adventures. While the skunk was removed, the petting zoo was not aware that the goats had been bitten.
“They showed no sign or symptoms of rabies,” Farm Adventures said.
Farm Adventures said one of the animals was ultimately sent for a necropsy after its veterinarian investigated what was happening. State health officials said several goats tested positive for rabies at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.
“These past few days have been incredibly difficult for us,” Farm Adventures said.
Rabies is a viral disease that is deadly if people do not receive medical care before symptoms begin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The virus primarily spreads through bites or scratches from an infected animal. Bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes are the animals most frequently found with rabies in the US, according to the CDC.
The CDC said roughly 100,000 Americans receive rabies vaccinations following a potential exposure each year.
Human rabies infections are extremely rare in the US, and no human cases have been reported in North Carolina since 2011, according to NCDHHS.