Two NIH researchers in Montana charged with smuggling mpox virus from Congo

Two researchers employed at a National Institutes of Health laboratory in Montana have been charged with smuggling mpox virus into the United States. The pair allegedly transported deactivated mpox samples from the Republic of the Congo without the required permits.

Two scientists working at a National Institutes of Health laboratory in Montana are facing criminal charges after allegedly smuggling deactivated mpox virus samples into the United States from the Republic of the Congo without the necessary permits.

Federal prosecutors say the researchers transported the biological material across international borders in violation of biosecurity regulations, which require strict permitting for the movement of potentially dangerous pathogens — even when deactivated — into the country.

The NIH facility in Montana is one of several federal research sites where scientists study infectious diseases. Regulations governing the import of biological agents are designed to prevent accidental releases and ensure proper containment and documentation of materials that could pose public health risks.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been the subject of heightened global attention in recent years following outbreaks in multiple countries. The Republic of the Congo has been among the nations most affected by the disease, making it a key location for international research efforts.

The charges highlight ongoing concerns about biosecurity compliance at research institutions. Authorities have not indicated that the deactivated samples posed an immediate public health threat, but federal law requires permits regardless of whether the virus material is capable of causing infection.