A truck crash in Pennsylvania, USA, which involved almost 100 monkeys, has left a woman fearful of an infection after she came into contact with the primates.
Michelle Fallon, from Danville, PA, reportedly developed a cough and conjunctivitis-like symptoms after encountering the monkeys.
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Fallon was driving behind the truck carrying the animals when it crashed, as she witnessed the monkey crates being hauled and broken across the road.
The monkeys were on route to a testing laboratory in Florida when the fateful incident occurred.
Four of the primates managed to escape their crates and run off from the site of the crash. Fallon said she left her own vehicle to help the truck driver and the animals who were involved in the crash.
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She was also told the primates were cats, according to Fallon in a Facebook post, and said that when she first approached the monkeys, they hissed at her.
The day after, when her symptoms began to appear, Fallon sought medical help at Geisinger Medical Center in the borough.
Doctors administered the woman four rabies injections, along with antiviral medication, MailOnline reports.
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She also stated on the social media platform that she was looking out for any symptoms of rabies and monkey herpes B virus.
Fallon wrote: 'What a day! I tried to help out at an accident and was told there were cats in the crates. So I went over to pet them only to find out it's monkeys.
'Then I noticed that there was three in each, with some completely broken, so I knew four had got away,' Fallon explained to her friends and family.
She continued: 'I came home to go to bed and my aunt ran into a news crew and she found out not to get too close to the monkey. Well, I tried to pet one. I touched the crates and walked in poop. I was told meet the police at the scene to talk about exposure.
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'I spoke with the police and a woman from the CDC I am getting a letter and I'm very low risk for I don't know what yet. But my symptoms are covid symptoms. Like seriously. A day from hell!'
The woman has been notified about keeping a watchful eye over her health for the next four weeks, just in case she develops an infection after being in close contact with the primates.
Police in the area have warned the public not to search for or approach the animals.
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Gabriella Ferlita