09/09/2026
A deadly virus is prompting renewed warnings across several U.S. states—and the latest cases show why even a seemingly harmless animal encounter deserves attention.
In North Carolina, three baby goats from a traveling petting zoo tested positive for rabies, while a fourth was presumed infected. Officials believe a skunk that entered their pen in late July was the likely source. Anyone who had contact with the goats between July 28 and August 27, 2026, is being urged to contact their local health department for an exposure assessment.
Meanwhile, Idaho reported 24 rabid bats as of September 2—more than in each of the previous three years. In San Antonio, Texas, officials confirmed the first rabies case in a pet dog in Bexar County in more than a decade. The city also reported 22 cases in wild animals during June and July, compared with two to three during the same period in 2024 and 2025.
These are separate local incidents, not proof of a nationwide outbreak. But they illustrate how rabies can move from wildlife into pets, livestock, and places where people interact with animals.
Rabies attacks the central nervous system and is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. The crucial difference is that it is preventable when appropriate medical care is given before symptoms begin.
If you are bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar or potentially rabid animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek urgent medical advice. A health professional can determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis is needed. Keep pets vaccinated, avoid handling wildlife, and never wait for symptoms after a suspected exposure.
Source: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (August 29, 2026); Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (September 2, 2026); City of San Antonio (August 19, 2026); CDC Rabies Prevention and Control.
