Residents in a Mississippi town have been cautioned following reports of three monkeys escaping after a truck transporting them overturned. Initially believed to be carrying infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid-19, the monkeys were later confirmed to be disease-free.
The incident occurred on a highway north of Heidelberg, with the truck driver alerting authorities that the primates were aggressive and potentially infected. Despite reassurances from Tulane University that the monkeys posed no health risk, Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that due to their aggressive behavior, the monkeys had to be captured.
While some of the escaped monkeys were euthanized, three managed to evade capture and are currently at large. The animals were part of a research facility at Tulane University and were intended for scientific research purposes. Authorities are uncertain about the exact number of monkeys that escaped and their whereabouts.
Rhesus monkeys, commonly used in medical research, are now roaming the countryside in Mississippi. Residents are advised to avoid approaching them and to notify law enforcement if spotted. The Mississippi highway patrol is actively investigating the situation as university officials continue their search for the missing monkeys.
