JASPER COUNTY, Miss. – Tulane University has disputed the claim that monkeys that were in a truck crash on Interstate 59 were infected with any diseases.
FOX13 initially learned that a truck carrying Rhesus monkeys from Tulane University crashed on I-59, just north of Heidelberg at mile marker 117 on Tuesday from a post on the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. The sheriff’s office said the monkeys were aggressive toward humans and infected with hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID.
The sheriff’s office said several diseased monkeys escaped, while others remained trapped in their cages, later adding that all but one of the infected monkeys were “destroyed.” They said that last monkey, however, remained on the loose as of 2:00 p.m. The sheriff’s office said the monkeys require personal protective equipment to handle.
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said Tulane University would send a team to pick up the surviving and caged monkeys, and said they contacted an “animal disposal company” and the Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries department to help find the remaining monkey.
The university released a statement, saying that the monkeys belonged to another entity and that they were not infectious, meaning that they were unable to transmit diseases to humans.
“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,” Tulane University said.
However, the university later contacted FOX13 to clarify their statement, saying that the monkeys were never infected with any diseases at all.
The sheriff’s office said the driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys “were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” and that people would need to wear PPE equipment to handle them.
“We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said.
Anyone who comes across the monkey should not approach it and, instead, call 911.
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