Jasper County, Mississippi, deputies killed multiple rhesus monkeys Tuesday following a truck crash on I-59, only to later learn that the animals were not infectious, according to the sheriff’s office and Tulane University.
Deputies initially warned residents that three monkeys were on the loose and described them as “aggressive.” They said the truck driver claimed the animals carried COVID-19, hepatitis C, and herpes. The department stated that “all but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed,” and that the wreck happened on October 28 near mile marker 117.
“We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a Facebook update.
However, Tulane University quickly contradicted the disease claims, stating that the monkeys were not part of any Tulane transport and are “not infectious.”
“Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery. The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious. We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed,” the university said in a statement.
The sheriff’s office also informed residents that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, along with an animal-disposal company, responded to the scene. Personal protective equipment was required for handling the monkeys based on the information given by the truck driver.
As of the latest update on Tuesday, one monkey remained unaccounted for.
It remains unclear how many monkeys were in the vehicle, who owns them, or the reason for their transportation. Authorities have not released the driver’s name.
Deputies said they will “continue to release updates as we get more information.”
https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/29/mississippi-tulane-escaped-monkeys-destroyed-herpes-covid/
