The CDC is now monitoring residents in Pennsylvania for “cold-like symptoms” following the escape of a number of lab monkeys last week.
Three monkeys escaped a crash last Friday along Route 54. The monkeys were later reportedly “humanely euthanized.”
The monkeys originated from Mauritius off the African coast.
WNEP reports:According to a CDC spokesperson, the monkeys were en route to a CDC-approved quarantine facility after landing Friday morning in New York. They are originally from Mauritius, a country in eastern Africa.
The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, that’s when the three monkeys got free in the Danville area.
Police say the driver who was transporting the monkeys was charged in the crash.
Originally, state police told us four monkeys were on the loose.
As of Saturday afternoon, some people were still worried.
“Little monkeys, we got bears, we have coyotes, we have deer, you know all the time. A little 3-pound monkey doesn’t scare me, but why are they so concerned about it is what concerns me,” said Howie Lerch, Valley Township.
Friday night Newswatch 16 spoke with Michelle Fallon of Danville, who saw the entire accident. She jumped into action; helping both drivers and the loads they were carrying.
“I walk up back on the hill and this guy tells me, ‘Oh, he’s hauling cats. I said, ‘oh.’ So I go over to look in the crate and there’s this green cloth over it. So I peel it back, I stick my finger in there and go ‘kitty, kitty.’ It pops its head up and it’s a monkey,” Fallon said.
Fallon was contacted Saturday by the CDC and was told to monitor herself for any cold-like symptoms.
