STATESVILLE, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a list on Sunday of locations across North Carolina after three baby goats at a mobile petting zoo in Iredell County tested positive for the disease.
[ READ MORE: Petting zoo owner speaks out after goats were euthanized following rabies infection ]
Two assisted-living centers in Statesville had events involving the goats.
Jurney’s Assisted Living Center is not taking any chances.
Eight residents, including some from the memory care unit, were helped into a van.
They were taken to Iredell Memorial, where they’ll begin receiving rabies vaccination shots out of an abundance of caution.
The assisted living center said the goats were there around the time they became infected in late July.
“I didn’t expect nothing like that,” said resident Elmer Rogers. “They jumped up in your lap and everything.”
Health department officials said the goats were likely exposed in late July and may have been infectious at multiple public and private events through last Thursday.
“Kind of sad that they had them,” resident Buddy Hudson said. “Better to be safe than sorry.”
The goats came from Farm Adventures, which is located in Harmony, and state officials said they were exposed to rabies by a skunk that had gotten into their pen where they were kept.
The state did not learn about a potential problem until Thursday, and then it was confirmed by a state lab on Friday.
The goats were euthanized, Farm Adventures officials said.
Officials at Brookdale Peachtree assisted living said the petting zoo was there on Aug. 6.
Channel 9’s Glenn Counts exclusively spoke with the petting zoo owner on Sunday night.
Misty Love, the owner of Farm Adventures, said the goats were too young to get rabies vaccines and that they were kept in a pen to try to prevent contact with wild animals.
The health department said there were 10 events held with the baby goats over the past month.
Known potential exposure dates and locations include:
- July 28: Jurney’s Assisted Living, 1942 Van Haven Drive, Statesville in Iredell County
- July 30: Private event in Mecklenburg County
- Aug. 1: Community Connections Back-to-School Bash, Breeden Amphitheater, 333 S. Main St., Lexington in Davidson County
- Aug. 6: Brookdale Peachtree, 2806 Peachtree Road, Statesville in Iredell County
- Aug. 8: Private event in Watauga County
- Aug. 9: Private event in Burke County
- Aug. 15: Masonic Picnic Grounds, 201 Poplar St., Mocksville in Davie County
- Aug. 16: Private event in Durham County
- Aug. 22: Private event in Iredell County
- Aug. 23: Private event in Durham County
People who may have been exposed should contact their local health department to find out whether they need medication to prevent rabies infection. Health officials recommend calling ahead before visiting an emergency room or urgent care center to determine whether treatment is necessary and where it is available.