Residents in a Mississippi town have been cautioned following reports of three monkeys breaking free and wandering the area. Initially believed to be carrying infectious diseases like hepatitis C, herpes, and Covid-19, locals were advised to avoid contact and notify authorities. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the monkeys were disease-free.
The incident occurred after a truck transporting these research animals overturned on a highway north of Heidelberg. Although the driver mentioned the monkeys’ aggressive behavior and diseases, Tulane University officials clarified that the primates were not infectious.
Despite this, Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that due to their aggressive nature, the monkeys had to be dealt with. While some monkeys were euthanized, three managed to escape and are currently at large. These Rhesus monkeys, weighing around 8 kilos, were part of a third-party research program at Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center.
The whereabouts of the remaining monkeys remain uncertain, with videos showing them near Heidelberg, Mississippi. University representatives are conducting search operations, and the monkeys are being returned to a facility in Louisiana.
Details regarding the ownership, transportation, and purpose of the monkeys, as well as the cause of the accident, are still unknown. Rhesus monkeys are extensively used for medical research, and authorities urge the public not to approach them.
The Mississippi highway patrol is actively investigating this unusual incident.