A truck hauling “aggressive” monkeys thought to be carrying hepatitis C, herpes and Covid-19 has overturned in Mississippi, with at least one on the loose, according to authorities.
The truck was loaded with caged Rehsus monkeys when it crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday.
It was transporting the monkeys to a testing facility in Florida, Connecticut news outlet WFSB reported.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson told local outlet WAPT that 21 monkeys were on the truck, six of whom escaped.
"The monkey that got away actually crossed interstate, went out into a wooded area," Johnson said.
The sheriff’s department initially said in a Facebook post that the monkeys posed “potential health threats.”
“The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans. We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys. He also stated that you had to wear PPE equipment to handle the monkeys,” the department said.
Authorities said the truck was carrying monkeys from Tulane University.
The university told The Independent that the monkeys left the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center in Covington, Louisiana, and were traveling to a non-Tulane-affiliated location.
“The primates in question belong to another entity,” the university said, adding that they were not being transported by a Tulane-affiliated service.
Tulane said in a statement on X Tuesday evening that the monkeys are not infectious.
“The primates in question belong to another entity & aren't infectious. We're actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed,” the university wrote.
Tulane stressed to The Independent that the monkeys “have not been exposed to any infectious agent.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, “All but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed. We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation,” authorities said.
Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries also responded to the scene.
Tulane will send a team to pick up the monkeys that are still caged on Wednesday, according to authorities.
This is a developing story...
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