Ebola fears spark probe into infected monkey bite at Montana research lab

By WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 02:13, 31 May 2026 | Updated: 02:19, 31 May 2026 Montana Republicans have called for an urgent investigation into reports a lab worker was bitten by a monkey infected with a deadly strain of Ebola.  Senator Tim Sheehy said this month he called for Montana's Inspector General to open a probe into the Rocky Mountain Lab, a government research laboratory focusing on infectious diseases.  According to a letter Sheehy sent to officials, a worker at the laboratory was bitten through their protective equipment by a monkey infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a strain of Ebola, in November 2025.  The employee, who has not been publicly identified, was treated following the monkey attack but did not contract the lethal illness, and officials said they soon returned back to work.  However, conservative firebrand influencer Laura Loomer alleged that the incident represented a national security scandal, suggesting that alleged safety lapses at the lab may have been a purposeful attempt to 'destroy President Trump's legacy.'  Loomer, a close Trump ally, also alleged on X that Vincent Munster, Chief of the Virus Ecology Unit at the lab, caused the incident by 'smuggling these pathogens into America.'  'Was this radical anti-Trumper plotting to unleash a new virus in America to sabotage the legacy of President Donald Trump?' Loomer said.  Sheehy reshared Loomer's remarks to his X account as he said his office was 'looking into these allegations', and said 'if they are accurate, this is a massive breach of trust with the people of Montana.'  Montana Republicans have called for an urgent investigation into reports a lab worker was bitten by a monkey infected with a deadly strain of Ebola at Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Pictured: A monkey at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory that was infected with the same virus The worker at the Rocky Mountain Lab was bitten through their protective equipment by a monkey infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a strain of Ebola, in November 2025. The staffer did not fall ill, reports say  As he shared his letter to Montana's Inspector General's office, Sheehy said on X, 'We don't want Montana to be the next Wuhan' - a reference to theories the Covid-19 pandemic accidentally leaked from a laboratory in the Chinese city.  Sheehy began his letter by claiming that the monkey bite incident was not the only scandal to hit the Rocky Mountain Lab.  Sheehy noted that three months after the monkey bite, a worker was also potentially exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in February 2026 while handling lab mice, due to a hole in their protective equipment.  The senator cited Munster - who has never been charged with any criminal wrongdoing in relation to the lab's work - as having allegedly heightened the risk of a mass Ebola outbreak by bringing pathogens into the United States.  Sheehy said Munster traveled to Africa in January 2026 to perform 'research activities', and upon his return, he was allegedly detained at a Detroit airport with 'vials with unknown contents in his personal luggage.'  He said a whistleblower came forward soon after to allege that Munster and his associates were allowed by Rocky Mountain Lab to 'come and go as they pleased' in the facility, despite the airport arrest shortly beforehand.  'These events raise serious questions about the safety and security procedures' at the lab, Sheehy said in his letter.  'It is critical that scientists, especially those with foreign connections, are thoroughly vetted given the potentially catastrophic impacts of their work on our nation's health and security.'  Montana Senator Tim Sheehy said he was requesting the state's Inspector General launch an urgent probe into the monkey bite incident, as well as the safety procedures at the lab, as he declared 'we don't want Montana to be the next Wuhan' Sheehy alleged that Dr. Vincent Munster (pictured), the Chief of the Virus Ecology Unit at the lab, was detained at a Detroit airport in January 2026 with 'vials with unknown contents in his personal luggage.' He has not been formally accused by authorities of any criminal wrongdoing The monkey bite incident in November 2025 was not the only scandal to hit the Rocky Mountain Lab - as just three months later, a worker was also potentially exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in February 2026 due to a hole in their protective equipment We don’t want Montana to be the next Wuhan. Montanans and Americans deserve answers over concerning reports out of Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Read my letter to the HHS Inspector General ⬇️ https://t.co/nWebJE3k02 Sheehy said he was requesting an urgent review of the incidents in November 2025 and February 2026, as well as a probe into Rocky Mountain Lab's safety protocols.  After reporting on the alleged scandals at Rocky Mountain Lab, Loomer spoke directly with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and cited specific scientists that she wanted fired, according to Politico.  The Daily Mail has contacted the Rocky Mountain Lab, the NIH, and Munster for comment.  Following Loomer's allegations, Sheehy was joined by fellow Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Rick Scott, of Iowa and Florida respectively, in voicing concern over the potential Ebola outbreak. 'We need to stop any funding of batty research before it causes another pandemic,' Ernst wrote on X.   'I have been asking about this NIH lab and the research that happens there for years and years,' the Iowa senator added to Politico.  'We can never allow another Wuhan to occur, especially within our own borders.'  Allegations at Rocky Mountain Lab were amplified by conservative firebrand and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who suggested the monkey bite leak and safety lapses at the lab may have been a purposeful attempt to 'destroy President Trump's legacy' Despite the panic from Congressional Republicans over the risks, the lab’s associate director for scientific management, Marshall Bloom, told the Ravalli Republic that the person bitten by the monkey never became ill. 'The person that was exposed to that never developed any signs or symptoms, was completely well, and has been back at work for, oh gosh, months and months and months,' Bloom said.  A source familiar with the monkey bite incident also reportedly told Politico that the worker 'followed all established procedures' to limit exposure, and said they were 'highly experienced and wore all required protective gear.'  'Experienced clinical experts' and 'highly trained safety professionals' then decontaminated, isolated and evaluated the lab employee, the source told the outlet.  The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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