Monkeys 'ran away with coronavirus test samples after attacking lab technician'

Locals filmed what they say is one of the monkeys sat in a tree chewing one of the sample collection kits

A group of monkeys reportedly ran away with coronavirus test samples after attacking a lab technician in India.

It is understood the monkeys swiped test samples from three suspected Covid-19 patients from the technician who was working at the Meerut Medical College in Uttar Predesh.

The samples were yet to be tested and new samples from the patients have had to be taken, the Mirror reports.

Fears around whether the monkeys may potentially spread the virus around nearby residential areas are mounting.

Locals filmed what they say is one of the monkeys sat in a tree chewing one of the sample collection kits.

Amir Haque, Lucknow Bureau Chief, said in an interview with  Times of India that the incident was "very, very dangerous".

He said: "While animals cannot be responsible for carrying this disease, if they are carrying these sample tests and they move away from the medical college to residential areas then definitely if there are contaminated kits there, then they (the monkeys) can spread the infection further.

"Therefore it's a very serious alarm for health authorities as well as the local administration involved."

The medical college is now trying to trace the samples and an alarm is being sounded around the college as a warning, he said.