Infected lab monkeys ESCAPE after Mississippi highway crash, sparking public health concerns – NaturalNews.com

• A truck transporting disease-carrying lab monkeys overturned on a Mississippi interstate, releasing several aggressive rhesus monkeys – some still missing – raising concerns about public safety and biosecurity risks.
• Authorities warned residents not to approach the monkeys – which can transmit hepatitis C, herpes and COVID-19 – while officials worked to recapture or “eliminate” escaped primates.
• The monkeys originated from Tulane University’s National Primate Research Center, reigniting debates over unethical animal testing, lax transport regulations and potential pandemic risks from zoonotic pathogens.
• Critics compared this crash to the 2021 Pennsylvania lab monkey escape, highlighting recurring dangers of unregulated animal transport and the profit-driven nature of primate research.
• Animal rights groups like PETA argue that using monkeys in labs is unethical and hazardous, demanding an end to primate experimentation due to suffering, contamination risks and lack of transparency.

A truck transporting nearly two dozen disease-carrying lab monkeys overturned on a Mississippi interstate on Tuesday, Oct. 28, triggering a frantic containment effort as authorities warned residents not to approach the aggressive primates – some of which remain unaccounted for.

The incident occurred near Heidelberg along Interstate 59. According to Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson, the truck was en route to an undisclosed Florida testing facility when it crashed. The accident scattered cages and released several rhesus monkeys – each weighing around 40 pounds and capable of transmitting hpatitis C, herpes and the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

While most were quickly recaptured or “eliminated” for safety reasons, at least one remained at large as of Tuesday evening, prompting warnings for locals to avoid contact and immediately report sightings. The incident has reignited long-standing debates over animal testing ethics, biosecurity risks and the shadowy transport of research animals across U.S. highways.

The monkeys originated from Tulane University’s National Primate Research Center, which supplies primates to external labs – a practice criticized by animal rights groups as both cruel and dangerously irresponsible. “Terrified monkeys running for their lives into unprotected, populated areas is exactly the spark that could ignite the next pandemic,” warned People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo, citing prior disease outbreaks at Tulane’s primate facility.

Historical context underscores why such incidents alarm both activists and public health experts. Lab monkeys are routinely shipped in unmarked trucks with minimal oversight, despite carrying zoonotic pathogens. Critics argue this trade prioritizes profit over safety, echoing past scandals such as the 2021 Pennsylvania crash – involving 100 monkeys bound for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s labs – where lax regulations risked exposing the public to biohazards.

Monkey business: From lab leaks to highway escapes

Mississippi officials, assisted by wildlife agencies and an animal disposal company, worked to secure the scene while Tulane prepared to deploy a specialized team. Johnson repeatedly stressed the seriousness of the threat, dispelling social media speculation that the alert was a hoax. “Do not try to capture or touch these monkeys,” he urged, noting their aggressiveness and disease risk.

The crash also highlights the opaque nature of primate research. Tulane declined to specify how many monkeys died or remained loose, stating only that the animals “belong to another entity” and were “not infectious” – a claim at odds with law enforcement warnings. Such contradictions fuel skepticism about transparency in an industry already under fire for its role in controversial COVID-19 research, including gain-of-function experiments linked to pandemic origins.

As cleanup crews worked into the night, the broader implications lingered. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the hidden pipelines ferrying lab animals across America’s highways—often with little public awareness until accidents occur. For Guillermo, the solution is clear: “The importation and use of monkeys in laboratory experiments … must end now.”

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch points out that “using monkeys as lab test subjects is unethical due to their comparable mental processes to humans, causing unnecessary suffering with little benefit.” The decentralized engine adds that “accidents and contamination risks further endanger both animals and researchers.”

For now, Jasper County residents remain on alert – their unease a testament to the uneasy intersection of science, secrecy and public safety. Authorities continue to search for the final escapee, their efforts a race against both biology and the clock.

Watch this video about Michelle Fallon, the witness to the 2021 Pennsylvania lab monkey truck crash, developing mysterious symptoms.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

The-Express.com

FoxNews.com

CDLLife.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com