Lab Monkeys Escape in Mississippi; One Still at Large, May Be Infectious

An alarming situation has arisen in the US state of Mississippi. A truck transporting experimental monkeys overturned, resulting in dozens of "aggressive" primates escaping. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office reported this on its official Facebook page. The incident has caused serious concern among the local population, as the animals' behavior has been described as highly aggressive.

Authorities have reported that most of the escaped monkeys have been found and neutralized. "With the exception of one, all escaped monkeys have been destroyed," the official statement reads. The university from which the animals were being transported tried to de-escalate the situation by stating that the primates were not contagious. However, other sources claim the opposite.

According to some data, the laboratory macaques brought out of Tulane University were infected with several dangerous diseases at once, including hepatitis C and COVID-19. This information gives reason to believe that the last remaining monkey at large could pose a serious threat to public health. Local authorities are warning that the macaque, which weighs about 20 kg, is aggressive towards people. Its capture requires personal protective equipment, as the risks of infection are extremely high.

Currently, law enforcement and specialists are continuing the search, trying to find the last monkey and prevent a possible epidemiological danger. Residents have been urged to be vigilant and to immediately inform the authorities if they spot the animal, avoiding any contact with it.