After the screening, join leading public health experts from SC for a conversation exploring how Contagion mirrors real-world outbreak response. Drawing on their experience in infectious disease surveillance, field epidemiology, immunization strategy, and pandemic preparedness, the panel will unpack what the film gets right about viral spread, data modeling, vaccine development, and public health decision-making. From local response efforts to global health coordination, this discussion will connect the science on screen to the systems that protect our communities every day.
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Outbreak: The Science Behind Contagion
Nothing spreads like fear.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z. Burns, Contagion is a gripping medical thriller that follows the rapid spread of a deadly global virus. Through an interconnected, multi-narrative structure, the film tracks epidemiologists, public health officials, scientists, and everyday citizens racing to contain a fast-moving pandemic. Featuring an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow, it offers a stark, unsensationalized portrait of global crisis.
Burns worked closely with experts from the World Health Organization and the CDC, resulting in a film widely praised for its realistic depiction of viral transmission, contact tracing, vaccine development, and public health response. Upon release, critics applauded its intelligence and restraint.
The film gained renewed relevance in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming one of the most-streamed titles worldwide and frequently cited by scientists as one of the most accurate portrayals of a pandemic ever put on screen. Today, Contagion stands as both a riveting thriller and a powerful reflection on science, trust, and preparedness in times of crisis.
This special screening celebrates Contagion not just as a thriller, but as a powerful example of how cinema can illuminate real-world science, making it an ideal selection for the 2026 National Evening of Science on Screen.
Moderator, James Muncy, MPH, Program Analyst III, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
James Muncy is a program analyst with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists supporting epidemiologists working in state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments. He previously worked for the South Carolina Department of Public Health as an epidemiologist and informatics manager. He holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology and Global Health from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University.
Panelists:
Linda J. Bell, MD, Director, Health Programs Branch, South Carolina State Epidemiologist, S.C. Department of Public Health
Dr. Linda J. Bell is South Carolina’s State Epidemiologist and Director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, where she oversees programs in infectious diseases, immunizations, and public health preparedness. A physician trained in internal medicine who later joined the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Bell has played a leading role in advancing science-based public health policy in South Carolina, including guiding the state’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marco Tori, MD, MSc, LCDR, United States Public Health Service, CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer, Medical Consultant, S.C. Department of Public Health
Dr. Marco E. Tori earned his M.D. from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and completed residency training in internal and preventive medicine in Boston, later receiving a master’s in epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health. A lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and alum of the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, he has served in South Carolina and internationally, supporting efforts ranging from monkeypox response to polio eradication and Afghan refugee health.
Destiny Williams, MPH, CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow, S.C. Department of Public Health
Destiny Williams is a CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow specializing in Maternal and Child Health at the South Carolina Department of Public Health. Her work is dedicated to improving public health outcomes for mothers and children through research and data analysis. She earned her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School/Old Dominion University in 2020. Previously, Destiny served as a Data Manager and Regional Data Analyst Manager at the Virginia Department of Health, where she played a pivotal role in managing surveillance efforts, data reporting, quality assurance, and visualization projects to address the COVID-19 and Monkeypox outbreaks.
2011. 106 min.