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By Liz O'Connell
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What began as a lighthearted music video shoot involving baby goats has turned into a frightening health scare after North Carolina health officials reported the animals tested positive for rabies a month later.
In a video recently posted to Instagram, Daniel Carrai (@danielcarrai) said he recently directed the production for the band SLIDE, incorporating several baby goats into the scenes. Cast and crew members held and interacted with the animals, unaware of any danger until weeks later, when production members learned the goats were infected.
The animals originated from Farm Adventures, based in Harmony, North Carolina, that transported livestock to events across the state during the summer. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), officials believe a skunk entered the animals' pen in late July.
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In a post on Facebook late last month, Farm Adventures explained that “the baby goats were kept in a separate pen, away from the others, and were too young to receive their vaccinations.”
The company added that it “unfortunately encountered a skunk in their pen, which we promptly removed and disposed of. However, during this process, the skunk was able to bite the goats.”
The farm said it had "no clue the goats had gotten bit" since they showed no signs of rabies. “Trust me if we did we would not [have] spent $100s of dollars for vets,” they added.
“We will be closely monitoring our remaining animals under the guidelines provided by health officials,” the farm wrote.
By August 29, three of the goats tested positive and were euthanized alongside a fourth presumed case that went untested. State health alerts indicated the animals could have been infectious between July 28 and August 27, having made appearances in at least seven counties.
Public appearances included an assisted living facility in Statesville on July 28, a back-to-school event in Lexington on August 1, another assisted living facility in Statesville on August 6 and the Masonic Picnic Grounds in Mocksville on August 15. The goats also attended private events in Mecklenburg, Watauga, Burke, Durham and Iredell counties, the NCDHHS said.
“Anyone who had contact with baby goats” from the petting zoo during the exposure window should contact a local health department, officials added. Although transmission from livestock is considered a lower risk than a bite from a wild animal, infected saliva can spread the virus through broken skin or the eyes, nose or mouth.
Carrai stated in his Instagram video that approximately 20 people involved with the video production faced potential exposure, prompting immediate medical concerns.
In a comment on the post, Carrai explained that one concern was the possibility that someone could have touched their face after coming into contact with the goats' saliva.
Newsweek reached out to Carrai via email for additional information and comment.
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Warning Over Rabies Exposure Risk at Petting Zoo—What Are the Symptoms?
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What Are the Symptoms of Rabies?
Rabies remains a fatal virus that attacks the central nervous system, though human cases are exceedingly rare in the United States.
North Carolina has not recorded a human case since 2011, according to the NCDHHS. Nationwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 1.4 million Americans seek medical evaluation for potential exposure annually, with fewer than 10 deaths recorded each year due to robust prevention protocols.
Wild animals—primarily raccoons, skunks, and foxes—pose a threat to three-quarters of the U.S. population.
The virus spreads through infected saliva, typically via bites or scratches. While symptoms can take weeks or months to appear, early signs mimic the flu, such as weakness, fever or headache, and are often accompanied by irritation at the wound site.
As the disease progresses, it takes one of two forms:
- Furious rabies: Involves hyperactivity, hallucinations, fear of water (hydrophobia), and cardio-respiratory arrest, leading to death within days.
- Paralytic rabies: Accounts for roughly 20 percent of human cases, causing gradual paralysis starting at the wound site before progressing to coma and death.
While extremely dangerous and potentially fatal, rabies is preventable but requires vaccination or immediate medical attention after exposure, according to the CDC. Post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes wound washing, human rabies immune globulin, and rabies vaccine, is highly effective if received soon after exposure.
Because baby goats are often bottle-fed, cuddled, and handled closely, including and especially in petting zoos, the likelihood of direct contact with an infected animal is high.
The Financial Impact of Prevention
For those affected, the incident brought significant financial strain alongside health worries. Carrai noted in his video that medical treatment for himself and his wife could approach $20,000, as their health insurance did not cover the necessary treatment.
Rabies Warning Issued in Multiple States
Health officials in several states have issued rabies warnings after infected bats, raccoons, foxes, goats and a pet dog were detected this year, raising concerns about possible exposure among people and pets.
The alerts include sharp local increases in Idaho and Texas. Idaho has detected 24 rabid bats so far this year—more than in any of the previous three years—while one public health district has received more than twice as many calls about possible bat exposures as it had at the same point last year.
In San Antonio and surrounding Bexar County, officials reported 22 cases of rabies in wild animals during June and July, compared with two or three during the same months in each of the previous two years. The area also recorded its first case in a pet dog in more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Florida officials issued a 60-day alert for part of Brevard County after a raccoon tested positive for the virus. Confirmed cases have also been reported in Alabama, California, Maryland and Michigan.
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Rabies Warning Issued in Multiple States as Local Cases Rise
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Rebecca Flood and Anthony Murray.
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