A transport truck carrying rhesus monkeys from Tulane University overturned on a Mississippi highway, sparking alarm after reports indicated the animals had been infected with multiple contagious viruses—including hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID-19. According to initial accounts, one infected primate remains missing following the crash, prompting immediate containment and search operations in the area.

The overturned truck, reportedly en route from a Tulane University research facility, left behind a scene of confusion and concern. Video footage from the site shows the wreckage of the transport vehicle as responders secured the area. While Tulane University quickly issued a statement claiming the monkeys were “not infectious,” the public reaction remains uneasy given the sensitivity of handling laboratory animals exposed to viral pathogens.

Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of animals involved, but sources indicate the majority were recovered unharmed and contained. Still, the missing primate has raised questions about safety protocols surrounding the transport of research animals, especially those potentially carrying diseases known to affect humans.

This incident reignites debate over the ethics and safety of high-risk medical experiments within U.S. universities. Some critics are calling for increased federal oversight of research transport operations, while others defend Tulane’s work as vital to medical science. The university maintains that all proper procedures were followed and insists there is “no threat to public health.”

For Mississippi residents living near the crash site, reassurance is in short supply. Many recall similar incidents where official statements downplayed risks, only for later investigations to reveal lapses in biosecurity. With one infected monkey still unaccounted for, local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and advise the public to avoid direct contact with wild primates until further notice.