Authorities search for 43 escaped monkeys from SC research facility

[Craig Nigrelli]

IT MAY SOUND LIKE MONKEY BUSINESS – BUT THIS IS SERIOUS.

POLICE IN A SMALL SOUTH CAROLINA TOWN ARE LOOKING FOR 43 MONKEYS THAT ESCAPED A RESEARCH FACILITY.

AUTHORITIES IN YEMASSEE – WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES WEST OF CHARLESTON – SAY THE MONKEYS ESCAPED THE ALPHA GENESIS FACILITY WEDNESDAY.

THE FACILITY USES THE MONKEYS TO CARRY OUT CLINICAL TRIALS ON THINGS LIKE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA TREATMENTS.

POLICE SAY THE PRIMATES THAT ESCAPED ARE RHESUS MACAQUES (muh-cocks).

THEY DID **NOT** SAY WHAT TRIALS THE MONKEYS WERE INVOLVED IN – SO IT’S UNKNOWN IF THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DISEASES.

STILL, THERE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN – MACAQUES ARE KNOWN CARRIERS OF THE HERPES B VIRUS, WHICH CAN BE DEADLY TO HUMANS.

A LOCAL NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE MONKEYS ESCAPED SAYS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT’S HAPPENED.

THE BEAUFORT COUNTY POST AND COURIER SAYS IN 20-16 – 19 MONKEYS ESCAPED FROM THE SAME FACILITY, BUT THEY WERE ROUNDED UP ABOUT 6 HOURS LATER.

POLICE HAVE SET UP TRAPS IN THE ARE AND SAY THEY’RE USING THERMAL IMAGINING TO HELP THEM FIND THE MISSING MONKEYS.

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