Transcript – Update on Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, 5/20/2026

Please Note: This transcript is not edited and may contain errors.

00:00:00 Operator

Good afternoon and thank you for standing by. For the duration of today’s call, all listeners are in a listen-only mode until the question-and-answer session. At that time, credentialed members of the media press can press star one to ask a question or press star 2 to withdraw your question. Today’s call is being recorded; if you have objections, please disconnect at this time. I will now introduce Mr. Benjamin Haynes. Thank you, sir. You may begin.

00:00:26 Benjamin Haynes, CDC Moderator

Thank you Amanda, and thank you all for joining us today, I’m joined by CDC ‘s lead for our Ebola response Dr. Satish Pillai, who will provide brief opening remarks before taking your questions. I’d now like to turn it over to Dr. Pillai.

00:00:41 CAPT Satish K. Pillai [suh-TEESH puh-LYE], M.D., M.P.H., Incident Manager for CDC’s Ebola response

Thanks Ben and thank you all for joining us. As I’ve said before, this is a fast moving fluid situation. CDC, federal and international partners are working around the clock to support the response, coordinate with partners on the ground, and protect the health and safety of Americans. Today I want to talk about the American who was moved to Germany and give you some context on how we ensure that, how the health and safety of anyone who is returning from outbreak regions in DRC and Uganda in these circumstances.

First, the American has landed in Germany and is at the hospital and in stable condition. As I’ve said, I want to thank our German colleagues, the ministries of health in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and everyone who helped safely transport this person to care, and we’re grateful for the efforts of colleagues within CDC, ASPR, State Department and across the federal government.

Other American citizens identified as having high risk exposures are also being moved from DRC to Germany and the Czech Republic as we speak; these people, who remain asymptomatic, are being moved to ensure that they have access to the specialized care if needed.

Medical transports for volunteers working in the region are conducted using procedures and protocols that are designed to protect the public, healthcare workers, and other staff every step of the way.

We work to ensure layers of safety are built into the process and support is provided, including health assessments, exit screenings, port of entries assessment, and coordination with health departments.

We understand people may feel concerned whenever they hear about Ebola. I want to remind folks that, since 2014 to, since the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola outbreak, we have built a robust system for how to assess people ‘s exposures before they leave an Ebola-affected area and ensure their safe return. We have a layered screening and monitoring system, and I want to remind everyone again of 2 things.

Ebola is spread through contact with body fluids of infected sick or dead individuals. You cannot get Ebola from simply being near someone or passing them in public spaces. And this is something CDC and international state local health departments have done repeatedly across multiple Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

Currently, the risk to the United States remains low because Ebola is not spread through casual contact and because monitoring and infection control measures are in place.

Our highest priority is the health of those effected and the health security of Americans both at home and abroad. Thank you.

00:04:16 Mr. Haynes

Thank you, Dr. Pillai. Amanda ,we are ready to take questions.

00:04:22 Operator

Thank you; if you are credentialed member of the media and you would like to ask a question during the call, please press star one on your touch tone phone; please press star 2 to withdraw your question. We ask that you ask one question and only one related follow-up question; again, that is star one if you would like to ask a question. You may queue up at any time.

Our first question comes from Melody Schreiber with The Guardian U.S. Your line is open.

00:04:48 Melody Schreiber, Yhe Guardian U.S

Wonderful; thank you so much for doing this. I wanted to ask about the 50 health clinics announced yesterday by Secretary Rubio. Where would those be? Would they be existing health clinics that are strengthened or new clinics? And how are we working with, in terms of trust ,because in previous Ebola outbreaks, trust in healthcare centers has been low. People have not sought care because they’re worried about being separated from family and so on. So, so, yeah, how is that sort of under consideration? Thank you.

00:05:17 Dr. Pillai

Thank you so much for the question, and again as I stated at the outset, this is a fast, fluid-moving situation, and we are working very closely with our State Department, interagency colleagues, and ministry and NGO partners to best assess what the needs on the ground are and operationalize next steps where we can best position resources, and I think you’ll see more to follow in the coming days.

Following that, I’d like to say that absolutely we need to ensure that community engagement, community trust, is and has been and will be and is a guiding principle in how we manage the Ebola outbreaks and ensure the safety of those individuals and affected communities.

00:06:14 Mr. Haynes

Next question, please.

00:06:17 Operator

Thank you; our next question comes from Amy Maxmen with KH, excuse me KXS health news. Your line is open.

00:06:26 Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News

Hi. Thanks a lot; it’s tricky. It’s KFF, but that’s fine. Yeah, I was just wondering is the plan going forward to not allow Americans with known Ebola exposure. There’s like the folks who are now in Germany or the doctor there to come back to the U.S. until they’ve been through the period for quarantine or treated for Ebola. And then the follow up is, if that is the plan, how do you expect not just like U.S. officials but any American to actually really help with the outbreak when they know they won’t be allowed back home if they are exposed?

00:07:05 Dr. Pillai

The, as the situation unfolds, I think the most important thing is what I led with at the outset: the, what we need to do is ensure that risk assessments are done, that individual risks are assessed, and then movement and monitoring processes can be put in place. As I noted, this is, again, a very dynamic situation. These individuals that were initially identified have been moved in the most expeditious fashion, and we will continue to, you know, assess the situation and determine, you know, optimal movement patterns based on the reality on the ground and the situation at hand.

And regarding your second point, we want to work hand in glove with our NGO partners and communities who have been integral in providing healthcare support, and CDC continues to work with over 20 NGO organizations including those providing healthcare support.

00:08:11 Mr. Haynes

Next question, please.

00:08:14 Operator

Thank you; our next question comes from Leigh Ann Winick with CBS; your line is open.

00:08:19 Leigh Ann Winick, CBS News

Thank you; could you explain what went into the decision to evacuate the patient and the 6 exposed to Europe and not return to the U.S.? And secondly, are there plans, or is there currently in place, U.S. airport screening from people coming from the affected countries where, and how could that be done? Is it on the outbound or arriving here? Thank you for both answers.

00:08:46 Dr. Pillai

So, I think, as I had alluded to in prior media opportunities, the assessments for movement plans to Germany the Czech Republic were based on the very dynamic situation and the need to move quickly. And so, these locations were chosen based on the needs that were present at that time. Regarding your second question, we are continuing to develop and operationalize plans and on, you know, further movement; and we’ll be working hand in glove with our state and local public health departments; thank you.

00:09:35 Mr. Haynes

Next question please.

00:09:37 Operator

Thank you; our next question comes from Youri Benadjaoud with ABC News; your line is open.

00:09:44 Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News

Hey thanks for taking this call again today. I’m curious about vaccines. I know there’s no currently approved vaccine, but there has been some discussion about using one of those approved vaccines potentially in this outbreak. What are your thoughts on that?

00:10:02 Dr. Pillai

Thank you. I was having difficulty with the mute button. The medical countermeasures are an important part of a layered approach to responding to Ebola. As you pointed out, there are no approved medical countermeasures right now for the Bondibugyo strain of Ebola.

And the role of vaccines, as well as any of the other countermeasures such as monoclonals, are being actively discussed within the U.S. government and with international partners. It’s always important to ensure that we have mechanisms in place to safely administer products. And I think you’ll see more in the coming days as to how these various countermeasures vaccines, therapeutics, monoclonals all fit together in a holistic Ebola response; thank you.

00:10:57 Mr. Haynes

Next question, please.

00:10:58 Mr. Benadjaoud

If you, quickly, a follow up?

00:11:00 Mr. Haynes

Oh, sorry Youri; go ahead.

00:11:02 Mr. Benadjaoud

I’ll just quickly follow up. Thanks Ben. Just on timeline: If there was going to be a vaccine or any other therapeutic, could you give us a rough timeline of how fast that could be launched in the outbreak setting?

00:11:12 Dr. Pillai

You know, I would. We could get a follow up with you. I know that there are active discussions right now about the role of when we can get monoclonal products to some of the affected countries, and we will continue to keep you posted.

I do want to acknowledge the strong working relationship and engagement with our colleagues at ASPR BARDA who are the HHS families’, you know, point for these medical countermeasures.

00:11:48 Mr. Haynes

Next question, please.

00:11:51 Operator

Thank you; our next question comes from Helen Branswell with STAT; your line is open.

00:11:56 Helen Branswell, STAT

Uh, thank you very much for doing this call and for taking my question. I wanted to ask about the decision to send somebody to the Czech Republic. Can you explain, please, why there? It is not known to be one of the sort of major sources of fatal virus expertise in terms of treatment or research, so I’m curious about there and whether or not anyone, other European countries refused to take this person. And I will have a follow up, please.

00:12:35 Dr. Pillai

We worked with our State Department and interagency colleagues, including ASPR who helps fund our our network of viral hemorrhagic fever experts, who have relationships with facilities across Europe including the Czech Republic, and again I want to thank our colleagues in the Czech Republic for being willing and able to accept this individual in this timely, expeditious fashion. So, I would say that that we are fortunate that we have experts there and reach back support as needed with our experts.

00:13:21 Ms. Branswell

OK, thank you. My follow up question is this. Is the ultimate decision to effectively refuse to allow people who’ve been exposed to Ebola, Americans who’ve been exposed to Ebola, to come back to the United tates for monitoring and care, was that decision made by the White House?

00:13:45 Dr. Pillai

Right now, what I would say is that the plans for these individuals that have moved were made based on the conditions on the ground, the need to rapidly mobilize, as you know, that this is a very rapid set of circumstances that unfolded over the weekend. And so, what I can tell you right now, this is what the situation was, and this is how we responded as quickly as we could.

00:14:19 Mr. Haynes

Next question please.

00:14:22 Operator

Thank you; our next question comes from Sandra Temko with CBS News; your line is open.

00:14:28 Sandra Temko, CBS News

Hello. Thank you very much for doing this press conference and for answering my question. I want to follow up about the airport screening. We’re hearing some airports are announcing whether they’re doing screening or not. Can you say which ones are? What are the criteria for choosing these airports? What kind of screening are you doing, and what are you doing if you find someone? Thank you.

00:14:51 Dr. Pillai

So I think, for just as a general point, what I want to kind of reemphasize is screening is something that happens 24/7 at ports of entry in the United States. There is exit screening that occurs in the countries that are currently affected.

This is, there’s a process, as I said at the outset, layered process for assessment, screening on one end, entry. And details regarding the operationalization of how additional movement and monitoring will be conducted will be following very shortly. Thank you.

00:15:37 Mr. Haynes

Next question please.

00:15:38 Operator

Yeah, our next, thank you our next question comes from Devi Shastri with The Associated Press; your line is open.

00:15:47 Devi Shastri, AP

Hi, thank you so much for doing this and taking my question. You mentioned yesterday that CDC staffer was going to be wheels-up today to be deployed to the DRC and that they were the first of many; could you say how many people are planned to be deployed and what they’re doing differently than the 130 staff members you mentioned who are already there? Thank you!

00:16:13 Dr. Pillai

So maybe I’ll take the questions in reverse. The dozens of staff we have in country are epidemiologists, medical epidemiologists, laboratorians; we have staff that are communications experts, and these staff are technical staff that have deep relations with the ministries and with the international partners on the ground. They are truly the experts of their countries they’re operating in. And I just, I want to thank my colleagues there for what they’re doing.

The second is the surge support, we are imminently, I’m not sure, I’d have to see, we can get back to you, whether our deployer has taken off. But we have staff that are heading to DRC. We have a handful, I don’t have the number off the top of my head, scheduled for Uganda.

And the, in terms of absolute numbers, I think the keys here are: We will pivot based on the needs identified by the country ‘s office and by the ministry. That’s one. Two: It is not just CDC staff or USG staff or ministry staff; We have partnerships with many organizations that are also augmenting, providing epidemiologic support, the things that CDC does, we have extensions that do the work in laboratory support communications.

So, there’s a multiplier effect there, and I think we will see more to follow as the situation continues to unfold. Thank you.

00:18:00 Devi Shastri, AP

And if I can have a quick follow up.

00:18:02 Mr. Haynes

I’m sorry, no go ahead, just follow up.

00:18:05 Devi Shastri, AP

Yeah, I just was wondering how many CDC staff are like, not the partners but CDC staff, are in the area where the outbreak is, like not just within the country, but where the outbreak is?

00:18:17 Dr. Pillai

So, the area that the outbreak is in is highly unstable and right now, CDC staff are not deploying into the area and that’s why again, I want to emphasize the importance of our partnerships there. Our funded partners there are doing the, this is hard, hard work, of supporting these communities. Our job is to support them, and our job at headquarters is to support our colleagues in the field, so it is a, a large group of individuals and the tip of the sphere are those individuals that are right in the in the outbreak zone.

00:18:58 Mr. Haynes

OK, Amanda we have time for 2 more.

00:19:02 Operator

Thank you, our next question comes from Sophie Gardner with Politico. Your line is open.

00:19:07 Sophie Gardner, Politico

Hi, thanks for taking my question! I just wanted to clarify: So, are there still, I believe the number we had before was 6 Americans, who had high risk exposures, not counting the doctor who tested positive; are there still only six that we know of, and have all of those individuals been moved to either Germany or the Czech Republic? Thank you.

00:19:29 Dr. Pillai

Thank you very much. Uh, all individuals are either, and I don’t have the tick-tock as to where they are in their flight right now. Huge thank you to our State Department colleagues, but they are actively en route to both destinations, those numbers that you articulated, remain the individuals that are in transit.

00:19:55 Mr.Haynes

Last question please.

00:19:58 Operator

Thank you. Our last question comes from Meg Tirrell with CNN; your line is open.

00:20:03 Meg Tirrell, CNN

Oh, thank you! I wanted to follow up on the monoclonal antibodies that you mentioned earlier. We understand that BARDA is coordinating shipping some monoclonal antibodies for potential treatment of high-risk Americans with Ebola exposure; can you share what the supply is of the monoclonal antibody and expectations for its potential use in trials in DRC?

00:20:29 Dr. Pillai

It’s a great question, and going back to the previous question, monoclonals are a part of a kind of holistic Ebola response. I would and have it in some sort of coordinated approach of evaluating these products and ensuring access to these products is, is something that we would probably have you follow up, and we can coordinate contact with our BARDAASPR colleagues. Thank you.

00:21:00 Mr. Haynes

Thank you, Doctor Pillai! Thank you all for joining us this afternoon. The transcript for this briefing will be available on the media website and if you have further questions, please feel free to reach out. This will conclude our briefing.

00:21:13 Operator

Thank you! That concludes today’s conference, thank you for participating. You may disconnect at this time.