In a story that seems almost too unbelievable to be true, a truck transporting monkeys reportedly carrying herpes and COVID-19 crashed in Mississippi, leading to an urgent search for the escaped animals.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department confirmed in a social media post that the incident occurred on Wednesday along Interstate 59 near mile marker 117. The vehicle, they reported, was transporting rhesus monkeys from Tulane University.

“These monkeys weigh approximately 40 pounds each and are aggressive towards humans,” the post stated. “Handling them requires personal protective equipment (PPE). They are known carriers of hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID-19. Tulane University has been informed and plans to send a team to retrieve the remaining caged monkeys tomorrow.”

In response to a reader’s query about the legitimacy of the situation, the sheriff’s department confirmed that this was indeed not a joke.

Sheriff says all but one of the animals have been “destroyed.” pic.twitter.com/L9ss4ylJof

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 28, 2025

“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.