A highway accident in Mississippi turned into a public health scare after a transport truck carrying lab monkeys overturned, setting several animals loose and raising fears about possible disease exposure.
According to local officials, the truck crashed on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg while hauling Rhesus macaque monkeys being used for laboratory research. Some of the animals broke free from their crates and scattered into nearby woods.
Early reports from law enforcement warned that the primates could be infected with herpes B, COVID-19, or hepatitis, urging residents not to approach them. However, later statements from Tulane University clarified that the monkeys were not part of any infectious disease program, and there is no verified evidence that the animals were carrying any active virus.
By Sunday evening, all but one of the escaped monkeys had been either captured or euthanized for safety reasons. The remaining monkey is still unaccounted for as search teams continue to monitor the area.
Officials stressed that people should avoid direct contact with any of the animals and report sightings immediately. They also confirmed that no human exposures or injuries have been reported.
