By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On Tuesday, a truck transporting “aggressive” Rhesus monkeys overturned in Jasper County, Mississippi. The monkeys, destined for a Florida testing facility after residing at Tulane University, were reported to carry hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID. Authorities confirmed that all but one of the escaped monkeys have been destroyed, with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office continuing the search for the remaining animal. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is assisting local law enforcement, while Tulane University prepares to retrieve the deceased monkeys.
Read the original article here
Truck hauling ‘aggressive’ monkeys carrying herpes and COVID overturns in Mississippi – talk about a headline that just jumps out at you, doesn’t it? It’s like a twisted blend of disaster movie and something you’d expect to find in a particularly dark corner of the internet. Honestly, if this were a movie pitch, I’d already be halfway to the concession stand with my popcorn. The sheer absurdity of it is almost…compelling.
The sheer fact that these monkeys are described as “aggressive” is immediately worrying. I mean, we’re not talking about some cuddly, docile primates here. These are the kinds of monkeys that sound like they’re ready to pick a fight, which, when coupled with the fact that they’re also carrying a trifecta of truly unpleasant viruses – herpes, hepatitis C, and COVID – well, that’s a recipe for chaos. It makes you wonder what kind of research was being done on these poor creatures in the first place, and why they were being transported in such a risky manner.
It’s particularly unsettling to hear about the specific strain of herpes they carry. There’s a particular type of herpes known as Herpes B that, as the provided link details, can be deadly to humans. It seems that even exposure through the eye is a potential pathway to infection. And now these creatures are loose? I can see why the authorities are taking this so seriously, even though that just adds to the tension.
The idea of these monkeys roaming free in Mississippi isn’t just concerning; it’s a disaster waiting to happen. The details of the accident itself, like the fact that the authorities are considering shooting the monkeys if they stray from the crash site, paints a vivid picture of the severity of the situation. It’s a sad turn of events for the monkeys themselves, subjected to experimental conditions for an unknown reason, now facing the possibility of violent death, or worse. The monkeys’ lives are about to become a whole lot harder.
And then there’s the whole waiting-until-Wednesday thing. Why wait? If these monkeys are such a threat, shouldn’t there be a rapid response team immediately on the scene? The delay just adds to the feeling of mounting dread and disbelief. It is also a question that arises from within. Why is this being delayed? The response seems out of proportion to the threat, and is a concern.
There’s something darkly comedic about the situation too, a sort of gallows humor that’s hard to ignore. The initial thought that came to mind was of the many dystopian movies that follow similar plot lines. One can’t help but feel a little like this is the beginning of some kind of horror film, and the people of Mississippi are the unwitting extras. It’s hard to not think of the film *28 Days Later*, which starts with a similar, though less outlandish, premise.
The whole thing reminds me of a bumper sticker I once heard of. “This vehicle is protected by a pitbull with aids.” Now, we have aggressive monkeys with herpes, hepatitis C, and COVID. It’s truly a sign of the times, a sign that the unexpected is not only expected, but often happens.
And now, here we are, facing what appears to be a real-life outbreak of aggressive, infected monkeys escaping. Considering the state of the world, I’m genuinely not surprised. I’m sure the headline is sensationalized, but it sounds like one hell of a situation.
The update – that all but one of the escaped monkeys has been “destroyed” – is chilling. Why only one? And why is that one still on the loose? One can only imagine the kind of havoc it could wreak. Considering the overall situation, it appears the best path forward would be to stay inside until the situation resolves itself.