Truck transporting monkeys used for animal testing overturns in US, those that escaped shot & killed

A truck carrying monkeys used for animal testing overturned in the state of Mississippi in United States on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28.

The Rhesus monkeys were said to be carrying hepatitis C, herpes and Covid, initial information from the local sheriff’s office revealed.

The animals were also described as 40 pounds (18.1kg) and “aggressive” to humans, requiring personal protective equipment to handle.

Officials said if the monkeys left the crash site, they must be shot.

The animals were subsequently shot and killed.

University says monkeys not diseased

The truck was on its way to a testing facility in Florida from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The location of the crash is north of Heidelberg, Mississippi.

Information from the sheriff’s office initially stated that all the monkeys escaped the truck, and all of them were shot except one: "All but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed."

However, in an updated post, the sheriff’s office said “several” monkeys were still on the loose as of Tuesday afternoon.

The latest update was that three monkeys were still on the loose.

Tulane University subsequently disputed information about the monkeys having infectious diseases in a statement clarifying that the animals "are not infectious":

“Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organisations 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.”

Top photo via ktre.com