Tragic Incident Involving Research Monkeys
This week, a truck transporting research monkeys met with a disastrous accident on Interstate 59. The chaos escalated due to unfounded claims that these monkeys were carriers of serious viruses like hepatitis C, herpes, and even the coronavirus.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office reported that the accident took place near Heidelberg, Mississippi, resulting in several rhesus macaques escaping onto the highway and seeking refuge in nearby woods.
Upon arrival, authorities described the scene as “chaotic and tense,” with initial reports labeling the monkeys as “aggressive.” Concerns arose about possible infections, including hepatitis C and COVID-19.
On October 28, 2015, a truck transporting Racer monkeys from Tulane University overturned near mile marker 117 on State Route 59. These monkeys weigh around 40 pounds and tend to be aggressive towards humans, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling. They can transmit hepatitis C, herpes, and the new coronavirus. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office indicated that a team would come to retrieve the caged monkey.
However, the police later pointed fingers at the truck’s driver, suggesting he was the one who labeled the monkeys as dangerous. It seemed he might have ignited the panic.
According to a statement from Tulane, the driver told local law enforcement that the monkeys posed a risk. Based on this information, officials took action, stating personnel would wear PPE while managing the situation, as relayed by the department.
Furthermore, Tulane University later clarified that the monkeys were not theirs and had not been exposed to any infectious agents. Ongoing searches by researchers equipped with protective gear are taking place in fields adjacent to the highway. What remains murky is who owned the monkeys and their intended destination.
Tulane University stated that the monkeys were neither owned nor transported by them and confirmed that they were free of disease. They sent a team of animal control experts to assist in this unfortunate incident, directing further inquiries to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
The situation garnered increased media attention and social media speculation, with some users referring to the monkeys as “lab monkeys infected with STDs.” This language was possibly linked to prior discussions of herpes B, which, while serious, has an extremely low risk of transmission to humans requiring close contact.
Sheriff Randy Johnson defended the actions of his team, emphasizing that they were following the best information available at the time. Still, he acknowledged the unfortunate outcome and mentioned plans to reassess communication procedures with federal and state agencies concerning animal transport.
Animal rights groups have criticized the incident, citing it as indicative of broader issues within the monitoring and transportation protocols for research animals.
Authorities continue to investigate who owns the monkeys and their intended route. The USDA is assisting with this inquiry, focusing on compliance with storage and transportation guidelines.
Residents in the vicinity of the accident have been reassured that there is no current public health risk, and no reports of injuries or infections have emerged among local residents or first responders.
