The Trump administration has implemented a significant change in protocol for handling Americans exposed to Ebola, opting to send them to Kenya rather than bringing them home for treatment in U.S. facilities. The decision marks a departure from past practices during previous outbreaks, when exposed Americans were typically returned to state-of-the-art medical facilities in the United States.

According to reports, the administration has already transported some U.S. citizens to Europe for treatment, indicating a broader shift away from domestic medical evacuation protocols. The reasoning behind the policy change and specific details about the Kenya treatment arrangement have not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing criticism from within the "Make America Healthy Again" movement over his decision to extend liability protections for pharmaceutical companies. The controversy centers on his extension of legal protections through July 18 for manufacturers and distributors of favipiravir, an experimental antiviral drug being developed as a potential treatment for the Andes hantavirus strain.

The HHS announced the liability protection extension late last week, with Kennedy signing the Public Readiness measure despite opposition from some anti-vaccine activists who had previously supported his appointment. The criticism highlights potential tensions between Kennedy's public health policies and expectations from parts of his political base.

Separately, Kennedy drew attention during a recent visit to Florida where he was filmed handling two nonvenomous snakes, generating widespread social media discussion about the health secretary's public activities.