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More than 200 People Exposed to Rabies at NC Zoo

Incident Date:
09/02/2026
Location:
Harmony, NC - USA
Facility Name:
Farm Adventures Petting Zoo
Facility Type:
Non-accredited Facility (RSZ)
Incident Category:
Animal health issue (RX)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Goats
Animal disposition:
Dead

Summary:

HARMONY, NC – According to the Department of Health and Human Services, as of Thursday, Sept. 2, local health departments reported conducting 284 exposure risk assessments related to the Farm Adventures petting zoo.

At least three baby goats belonging to the North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies, prompting state health officials to issue an urgent warning to those who visited the operation’s mobile menagerie since late July.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said Sunday that tests Friday confirmed that the rabies virus was found in three baby goats. A fourth baby goat was not tested but was assumed to also have been infected, the agency said.

The four infected baby goats were euthanized, according to ABC affiliate station WSOC in Charlotte, N.C.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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