Vincent Munster, the chief of the virus ecology section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, and research fellow Claude Kwe have been charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the United States from Africa. They were stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after returning from a trip to the Republic of Congo. During questioning, Munster denied having any biological materials, but subsequent tests revealed the presence of the vials. The FBI indicated that their failure to declare these materials or obtain necessary permissions poses a serious breach of public trust. The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services highlighted the risks associated with such actions. Although the reasons for bringing the virus to their lab remain unclear, both scientists have extensive backgrounds in mpox research. The World Health Organization notes that mpox can cause serious illness, although most individuals recover fully. The virus has seen a resurgence, with outbreaks reported in over 70 countries since 2022.