Watch out, diseased monkeys on the loose! On Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, a truck was transporting a group of rhesus monkeys when it overturned in Jasper County, Mississippi. This event happened about 75 miles east of Jackson. The vehicle driver made it seem like the monkeys were a threat to humans and were aggressive. Deputies were told that the monkeys had Hepatitis C, Herpes, and COVID-19. After hearing this, the sheriff’s department said that deputies would require protective equipment to be able to handle the monkeys. With this information, they took appropriate actions to ensure everyone’s safety.
The department said that the monkeys were being hauled from Tulane University. The school posted on twitter that its National Biological Research center provides information to other research organizations to “advance science” and that the monkeys were not infectious like everyone was being told they were. In addition to this, NBC news stated that the monkeys have not been exposed to any infectious agents.
The sheriff’s department warned the public about the crash on Interstate 59. They told people to avoid the monkeys because they posed “potential health threats and are aggressive.” This statement was false, and they turned out to not have any diseases harmful to humans. The accusation came from the truck driver. He mistakenly informed the local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous from initial, incorrect reports that the animals were aggressive and infected with several serious diseases. All 21 of the monkeys escaped, 13 of them were recovered at the crash site, five of them were killed, and the remaining three initially escaped but then eventually found. Two of the monkeys that were killed, were shot by residents who feared for their safety and were worried that the animals carried diseases.
Although the officer’s intent was to protect the public from the “diseased monkeys”, this tragic event ended with deadly force against innocent animals. It’s important that there’s no false information surfacing about undomesticated animals, considering they can be commonly feared and seen as a threat to society. If you or anyone you know is ever put in a situation where undomesticated animals are present, it is crucial to remain calm and resort to safety rather than violence.
