A HERPES-ridden monkey is on the run – after a truck carrying “aggressive” primates infected with hepatitis C and Covid-19 flipped over.
Authorities are hunting the loose Rehsus monkey which poses “potential health threats” after it escaped during a highway crash in Mississippi.
Dramatic footage shows the monkey at large emerging from the wreckage as his fellow primates also leave their cage.
Cops say five of the infected monkeys had since been destroyed following their brief liberation – but one is still on the loose.
The truck was en route to a testing lab in Florida from Tulane University before the monkey storage unit was breached.
It crashed on Interstate 59, north of Heidelberg, on Tuesday before unloading the hairy crew.
Shocking images also showed one of the animals sliding out the back of the upside-down truck after surviving the impact of the crash.
Police have warned locals that the monkey is “aggressive towards humans”.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson said the mammal that got away may have run across a state border.
He said: “The monkey that got away actually crossed interstate, went out into a wooded area.”
Police said the solo monkey posed “potential health threats” to passers-by.
“The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans,” cops said.
“We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys.”
The driver also told police they needed to “wear PPE equipment to handle the monkeys”.
Tulane Univserity said: “Non-human primates at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center are provided to other research organizations to advance scientific discovery.
“The primates in question belong to another entity and are not infectious.
“We are actively collaborating with local authorities and will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.”
Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries have also responded to the scene and are helping to locate the rogue monkey.
It is currently unclear what caused the truck to crash and turn over before releasing the primates.
