Police respond to fears of “infectious” monkeys on the loose after truck crash

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Okay, so this is kinda wild. Apparently, a truck carrying lab monkeys crashed in Mississippi last week. Six of them got loose, and honestly, it’s a bit grim – the sheriff’s department said they had to put down half of them. They’re still looking for the other three, which is… concerning, to say the least. I’m just hoping they find them quickly and safely, for everyone’s sake.

Mississippi wildlife officers are helping local police with a search, and an animal removal service is also assisting. They are looking for a monkey that is still missing.

At first, authorities said the rhesus monkeys were about 40 pounds and potentially dangerous due to illness and aggression. However, researchers later proved this information was incorrect.

Sheriff says initial health concerns came from driver

The monkeys were being moved from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center to a different research facility.

Tulane University stated the animals don’t carry any infectious diseases and aren’t owned by the school. They also said their staff will cooperate with authorities if necessary.

So, it turns out the whole thing about possible diseases like hepatitis C and herpes actually started with the truck driver. He was the one who told the sheriff’s department that you needed protective gear when dealing with the monkeys. It’s good to know where that information came from, even if it was a little scary!

In November 2024, 43 monkeys of the rhesus macaque species got loose from the Alpha Genesis research center in South Carolina. Fortunately, they were all found and brought back within a few weeks.

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2025-10-29 18:18