Rita De Crescenzo and the monkey, infectious disease specialist Bassetti raises the alarm: "There's a huge risk of infection, and it's illegal."

Naples — There's no peace surrounding Rita De Crescenzo's social media outbursts. The well-known TikTok user is at the center of a new and harsh media storm. The reaction was sparked by her videos featuring a small monkey, displayed as a trophy and kept at home, an act that immediately attracted the attention of doctors, environmentalists, and parliamentarians.

The infectious disease specialist's warning: "A danger for everyone"

Among the first to intervene decisively was Matteo Bassetti. The well-known infectious disease specialist and science communicator published a video debunking the legal and health implications of the case.

Bassetti explained the potential consequences for public health: "It places itself and the community at enormous risk from a health standpoint. These animals can transmit monkeypox through direct contact, but also serious diseases like Ebola, Marburg virus, and bacterial infections like salmonella. These are called zoonoses: infections that pass from animals to humans. Animals must live with animals, and humans with humans. Ignorance risks harming not only that person, but everyone."

Black market and reports to the authorities

While the medical situation appears critical, the influencer's regulatory position is poised to become complex. Although De Crescenzo has maintained that she purchased the animal legally, international regulations suggest otherwise.

Green and Left Alliance MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli and animal rights activist Enrico Rizzi have weighed in on the case: "In Egypt, the purchase, sale, and possession of monkeys are strictly prohibited by law for private citizens and tourists. Any form of primate trade falls within the black market and illegal wildlife trafficking," the two denounced, announcing a formal report to the Italian Embassy in Cairo and the Ministry of the Environment to verify the animal's provenance and any violations of CITES regulations.

The social media challenge: "No one can take it away from me."

Despite the growing controversy and the criminal and health risks, the TikTok user shows no signs of backing down. In her latest posts, she continues to show off the little primate to her followers, pushing ahead and issuing an open challenge to her detractors: "The monkey is mine, and no one can take it away from me." It will now be up to the relevant authorities to determine the animal's fate and verify the legality of the purchase.

It should be noted that the TikTok user is still in Sharm el-Sheikh and therefore has not committed any crime of illegal animal importation in Italy. However, in Egypt, it is illegal to possess and purchase wild and exotic animals without a specific permit, and severe penalties, including prison, are applicable for violators.