Residents in a Mississippi town have received a warning following reports of three monkeys escaping and roaming freely. Initially, concerns were raised about the monkeys being infected with hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid-19, prompting locals to avoid contact and notify authorities if spotted. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the monkeys were not carrying any diseases.
The incident occurred after a truck carrying the primates overturned on a highway near Heidelberg. Despite earlier claims of the monkeys being aggressive and disease carriers, officials from Tulane University clarified that the monkeys posed no health risk.
Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that due to their aggressive behavior, the monkeys had to be contained, resulting in the unfortunate death of some monkeys. Three monkeys managed to evade capture and are currently at large. The animals were originally housed at Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, which supplies primates for scientific research purposes.
The whereabouts and exact count of the monkeys remain unknown, and efforts are underway to locate them. Rhesus monkeys, weighing around 8 kilograms, were observed in video footage moving through grass near the highway. University representatives are actively searching for the missing monkeys while the rest are being transported back to a facility in Louisiana.
The circumstances surrounding the transportation of the monkeys, the cause of the accident, and their intended destination are still unclear. Rhesus monkeys are extensively used in medical research, and these monkeys are currently roaming around a rural area north of Jackson, Mississippi. The public is advised not to approach them and to contact law enforcement if sighted.
The Mississippi highway patrol is conducting an investigation into the incident.