A health alert has been issued in Mississippi after a truck carrying potentially diseased rhesus monkeys crashed on Interstate 59, releasing several animals. One monkey remains at large as of Tuesday evening, despite authorities destroying the others.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department reported that the monkeys, originating from Tulane University in New Orleans, were infected with viruses including hepatitis C and Covid-19, posing a risk to humans. The department described the animals as aggressive and weighing approximately 40 pounds, requiring personal protective equipment for handling.
However, Tulane University spokesperson Andrew Yawn provided a contrasting statement, saying the primates belong to another entity and are not infectious. “Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations,” Yawn said, adding that a team of animal care experts has been dispatched to assist local authorities.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that all but one monkey were destroyed by late Tuesday, with a search ongoing for the remaining animal. The incident has prompted public caution in the affected area as officials work to locate the escaped primate.
