Fact Check: Did the DOJ charge two NIH researchers with smuggling monkeypox virus into the United States?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.

Claimant: Social Media

Claim: The U.S. Department of Justice charged two foreign-born National Institutes of Health researchers with smuggling the monkeypox virus into the United States.

Rating: TRUE

Explanation: Federal prosecutors charged two NIH researchers after authorities alleged they brought vials containing deactivated monkeypox virus into the United States. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

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Date: 06/07/2026

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Last Updated on June 7, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check

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