Infected Lab Monkey Bites NIH Worker, GOP Senators Demand Answers

A Montana Republican senator is pressing federal health officials for answers after an infected lab monkey bit a government employee at a National Institutes of Health facility in Hamilton, Montana, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services following reports about the November incident at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a federal NIH research site that studies dangerous infectious diseases.

According to Politico, the employee was bitten by a monkey infected with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a lethal tick-borne illness. The worker was treated after the bite, did not contract the disease, and later returned to work.

Sheehy shared his concern on X after reposting a message from Laura Loomer about the incident.

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“We don’t want Montana to be the next Wuhan. Montanans and Americans deserve answers over concerning reports out of Rocky Mountain Laboratories,” Sheehy wrote.

In his letter, Sheehy said the work being conducted at the facility carries serious public safety concerns if protocols are not followed.

“Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) is a federal National Institutes of Health (NIH) research facility in Hamilton, Montana, that conducts studies on some of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases,” Sheehy wrote.

“The seriousness of the work conducted at RML means that even small lapses can carry real risks for the staff and surrounding community.”

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— Tim Sheehy (@TimSheehyMT) May 26, 2026

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Sheehy requested that HHS investigate the incident, including what happened, what pathogens are being used at the facility, and whether biosafety rules were followed. He also asked for a review of RML’s safety procedures and possible improvements.

The Montana Republican further requested information about personnel management practices at the lab, including background checks, oversight, and clearance processes for staff.

Sheehy also asked HHS to provide more information about NIH protocols for employees who are under investigation, including what access such employees have to federal research facilities.

One figure connected to the broader controversy is Dr. Vincent Munster, who allegedly brought unmarked vials back from a study trip to Africa.

The situation has drawn attention beyond Montana. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Politico that she has had questions about the NIH facility and its research for years.

“I have been asking about this NIH lab and the research that happens there for years and years,” Ernst said.

“We can never allow another Wuhan to occur, especially within our own borders.”

The facility’s work with high-risk infectious diseases has prompted Republican lawmakers to demand more oversight of federal research involving dangerous pathogens.

The employee in the November incident did not develop Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, but Sheehy’s letter argues that the public deserves clarity about safety practices at Rocky Mountain Laboratories and the safeguards in place for workers and nearby communities.

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