Rabies Alerts

Two days before its death, a billy goat in Nobles County was observed by its owner to be ‘slow’ with a swollen rear leg. The owner had lost another billy goat with similar signs earlier in the week. After the second goat died, it was submitted for testing and found to be positive for rabies on January 31.

No exposure to a rabid animal was observed by the owners. Goats and other animals on the farm are under observation. The farmer has been advised to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to his contact with the goat.

Rabies in sheep or goats is reported infrequently in Minnesota with the

The owner of a horse in Mower County was witness to a progressive illness in his horse last week. The horse was noted to be weak and had difficulty rising. The animal began head pressing and occasionally fell down until it was no longer able to stand. The horse tested positive for rabies on January 4, making it the first animal to test positive in 2013. The rabies vaccination history of the animal is unknown.

The property owner has other horses, cattle and a dog. Exposures of these animals to the rabid horse are currently under investigation.

In 2012, two horses tested positive for rabies, one