Senior NIH scientist charged with bringing deactivated mpox virus into U.S.
statnews.com • • health
Key Points:
- Two U.S. government scientists, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, were charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the U.S. from Africa and lying about it during airport interviews.
- The scientists were stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after returning from the Republic of Congo and were found to be carrying undeclared biological materials without proper authorization.
- Munster denied carrying biological samples and claimed to have necessary documentation on his laptop, but investigators found his statements to customs officers were false.
- Both scientists work as virologists specializing in mpox research at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, though the motive for bringing the virus samples into the U.S. was not disclosed.
- Authorities emphasized that unauthorized smuggling of biological materials poses a public health risk and breaches public trust; Munster and Kwe are scheduled to appear in federal court in Montana.