Scientists charged with smuggling mpox virus into the US

Two scientists face charges for smuggling deactivated mpox virus into the U.S. from Africa and lying to authorities. The scientists, employed at a U.S. government lab, were stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in January after returning from the Republic of Congo. They failed to declare the biological material or obtain necessary permits. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, can cause serious illness, though most recover. The virus was first identified in monkeys in 1958 and has seen human cases primarily in Africa until recent global outbreaks.