Sometimes you read a headline and you think it can't be true. But we can confirm that a big rig carrying monkeys who are believed to carry herpes and COVID crashed, and the animals escaped, leading to a massive search underway in Mississippi.
In a post from the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, it confirmed that on Wednesday, a wreck occurred on 159 near mile marker 117 involving a "truck carrying Rehsus monkeys from Tulane University."
🚨 BREAKING: Truck hauling ‘aggressive’ monkeys carrying hepatitis C, herpes & COVID overturns in Mississippi
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 28, 2025
Sheriff says all but one of the animals have been “destroyed.” pic.twitter.com/L9ss4ylJof
"The monkeys are approximately 40lbs, they are aggressive to humans, and they require PPE to handle," the post read. "The monkeys carry hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID. Tulane University has been notified and will send a team to pick up the monkeys tomorrow (the ones that are still caged)."
An update read:
All but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed. We have been in contact with an animal disposal company to help handle the situation. Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries is also on site with our local law enforcement. We are continuing to look for the one monkey that is still on the loose."
When one reader questioned whether the sheriff's post was a joke or real, they responded, "Unfortunately not" a joke.
ALSO SEE: National Institutes of Health Wasting Money on Transgender Animal Experiments
Our sister site Townhall.com's Katie Pavlich nailed exactly how many people on social media felt after reading the headline about escaped diseased monkeys.
Welp. It’s been a nice ride gang. https://t.co/kAA3DLhJlj
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) October 28, 2025
"Welp. It's been a nice ride, gang," Pavlich wrote.
Her post included a picture of the crash and one of the monkeys on the outside of the vehicle, with the door of the truck open and crates on the ground.
Another person pointed out just how many monkeys had initially escaped, along with a video of the animals after the crash.
Hey Hey We’re the Monkeys, carrying Diseases Around
— Beard Vet (@Beard_Vet) October 28, 2025
21 monkeys were on the Truck
15 Remained Caged
6 of them Escaped
5 Captured
20 Euthanized
1 Still on the Loose, Good Luck pic.twitter.com/x0l2N05Rig
21 monkeys were on the Truck
15 Remained Caged
6 of them Escaped
5 Captured
20 Euthanized
1 Still on the Loose, Good Luck
Update:
The sheriff's department issued an update at the time of this publication that what authorities were told by the truck driver was, at best, misleading.
Tulane has released the statement below. The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans. We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys. He also stated that you had to wear PPE equipment to handle the monkeys.
The statement from Tulane University read:
Non-human primates at the TNBRC are provided to other research orgs to advance science. The primates in question belong to another entity & aren't infectious. We're actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.
— Tulane University (@Tulane) October 28, 2025
Non-human primates at the TNBRC are provided to other research orgs to advance science. The primates in question belong to another entity & aren't infectious. We're actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
Help us continue to report the truth about the Schumer Shutdown. Use promo code POTUS47 to get 74% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member