Residents in Mississippi have been cautioned about three monkeys that have escaped and were initially believed to be carrying infectious diseases, including hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid-19. Although the animals were later confirmed to be disease-free, locals were advised not to approach them and to contact the authorities if spotted. The incident occurred when a truck carrying the monkeys overturned on a highway north of Heidelberg. While the driver reported that the primates were aggressive and carried diseases, officials from Tulane University clarified that the monkeys were not infectious.
Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that due to the monkeys’ aggressive behavior, they needed to be contained. Some Rhesus monkeys were euthanized, but three managed to escape and are currently on the loose. The monkeys, which were part of a research program at Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, were not owned by the university but by a third party. The exact number and whereabouts of the monkeys remain unknown.
Rhesus monkeys, commonly weighing around 8 kilograms, were seen near Interstate 59 in Mississippi. University officials are working to locate the missing monkeys, while the rest of the animals are being returned to a facility in Louisiana. The circumstances of the crash, including the number of monkeys on the truck, ownership details, and the purpose of transportation, are still under investigation. Rhesus monkeys are extensively studied for medical research, and the public is advised not to approach them but to contact law enforcement if spotted.
The Mississippi highway patrol is actively investigating the situation.