A Mysterious Virus Claims the Lives of Monkeys in India

In recent days, hundreds of macaque monkeys have died from a mysterious virus in India, unrelated to coronavirus, leaving experts puzzled and unable to identify the cause.

There are concerns among experts that this could be a type of disease similar to avian flu; however, it remains unknown to science as of now.

According to a report by the local 'Times of India', the affected forest is located near the Purnapur railway station. Besides the dying monkeys, some are exhibiting signs of madness. Forest rangers reported finding four dead monkeys in a mango plantation in Kashipur village and two others showing symptoms of madness due to the mysterious illness. "One crazed monkey bit a ranger attempting to capture it and was sent for medical treatment," shared one of the rangers.

Veterinarians have collected blood samples from the deceased monkeys in an attempt to diagnose the disease, but without success. Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Rajeev Mishra suggested that the crazed monkey by the railway tracks might have consumed toxic water. "We are also investigating herpes B virus, monkeypox, or monkey immunodeficiency virus. It appears that coronavirus is not the culprit here."