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CNN Sunday Morning
Swine Flu Reported in Texas, California; 81 Mexico Deaths Linked to Virus
Aired April 26, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's April 26th.
Good morning, everybody. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
REGGIE AQUI, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Reggie Aqui. Happy Sunday to you. I'm in for T.J. Holmes this morning.
It's 8:00 a.m. in New York, 7:00 a.m. in Texas and 5:00 a.m. in California, where cases of swine flu have been reported. There's a lot of news developing on this story, so we're going to get right to what we know right now.
NGUYEN: All right. The World Health Organization is calling it an "emergency of international concern."
Here is the latest: At least 81 deaths in Mexico are likely linked to the virus. Testing confirms another 20 cases there.
And since yesterday, two more cases in the U.S. have been confirmed, those in Kansas. The nine others, in Texas and California. So that brings the total number of confirmed cases in the U.S. to 11.
And there could be more. Tests suggest swine flu is likely in eight New York school students. Also, 22 students and teachers from New Zealand who just returned from Mexico may have been affected as well.
Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, boards a plane from Mexico this morning. But first, he is sticking around for a minute to talk about this.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
NGUYEN: A lot of people worried, especially when it comes to something they're not very familiar with. Help us understand what swine flu is and how do you contract it?
GUPTA: Well, you know, this particular swine flu is something we've never seen before. What happens is various flu viruses sort of recombine and they create a new virus altogether. And that's why there's a little bit of lack of information, not as much as we'd like, at least early on. As they learn more about this virus, they're going to get more. The chances of anybody watching right now, any individual, is very low, that they're going to have any sort of trouble with this particular virus. But the reason we're paying attention, the reason that we're going to Mexico is that, you know, you have 80 deaths down there.
NGUYEN: Right.
GUPTA: So, this is something that can cause death. So, it automatically puts this virus in a sort of different scale of seriousness as you're hearing.
AQUI: You know, the last time we saw people asking about face masks and precautions when they're traveling and that's sort of thing, the last really huge story we saw was about SARS.
GUPTA: That's right.
AQUI: So, is this like SARS? Does it even compare to that?
GUPTA: Well, I think it's like SARS in that we don't know exactly how it's spreading around the world. You know, we're hearing Kansas, California, Texas, obviously, Mexico, and maybe New York now, the probable cases there. What is happening? How did the same virus, genetically identical virus end up in all of these places?
And I think that's one of the lessons we learn from SARS. People get on airplanes, they spend time in airports, they talk to people, they shake their hands, they infect them in some way, and those people get on airplanes. So, if you were to deconstruct this in almost a medical mystery sort of way, you're going to see the same -- probably some of the same patterns that we learned from SARS.
NGUYEN: Speaking of SARS, you know, we really saw a lot of these masks right here. And the ladies, the makeup artists and our department here gave this to me because I'm boarding a plane later today. Maybe you might want to take one since you're boarding a plane as well. Will that make a difference?
GUPTA: Well, the mask that the Centers for Disease Control recommends is something known as a M-95 mask. And that refers to how well it filters stuff that's coming in. It's really hard to filter viruses or bacteria overall because they're so small. So, just about any filter is not going to be, again, I can't -- I don't think this is the M-95 mask.
NGUYEN: So, is it even pointless to wear this? Because we were watching video and we have been of -- you know, a lot of people in Mexico City wearing masks, different types of masks. Does it make a bit of difference to wear it if it's not the right one?
GUPTA: I think it has to be the right one. The other ones may -- I don't know how much of a benefit they're really going to have. The viruses are so small that it might just get through those infiltrations. AQUI: I was wondering about this morning, at first, to be honest. I thought it was a stupid question but if someone has had a flu shot in the past, I guess it's possible that could help you?
GUPTA: So, this particular virus is made up of several different strains and one of those is the human influenza virus strain. That's part of this new swine flu that we are talking about. So, think about it this way. If you got the flu shot, you are getting protection against part of this virus. Now, it may be an important part of the virus because it's human influenza part of this that's making this contagious specifically and that's what's, you know, got the concern. Normally, this is transferred from pigs to humans. But now it can be transferred from humans-to-humans. Those are some of the symptoms, which are things that, you know, a lot of people may consider things that they've had in the past.
NGUYEN: Well, I guess (INAUDIBLE) with a regular flu. So, how do you know what you have is just, you know, the run-of-the-mill flu as opposed to the swine flu?
GUPTA: Right. Well, you know, that's a very good question, the question we've been asking infectious disease doctors as well. It's hard to tell for sure. One thing about this is that it seems to be coming on quite suddenly. So, you may feel well when -- as you go to bed and feel awful when you wake up in the morning. That's something.
Also, if you're having some of the breathing difficulties and also the nausea. Typically with flu, you get the body aches, the fever, the cold-like symptoms. If you're getting nausea and vomiting as well, that maybe more cause for concern. But my guess is, and we're not recommending this, but a lot of people are going to end up in the emergency rooms getting tested ...
NGUYEN: Right.
GUPTA: ... because they are more concerned now and they're going to be told, "You know what, you don't have it," you're just fine. But there is going to be a heightened level of concern for people.
NGUYEN: Yes, no doubt. And that's understandable. Well, be safe on your trip and looking forward to your report down in Mexico.
GUPTA: Thank you. Yes, OK.
NGUYEN: All right. Thanks, Sanjay.
AQUI: Thanks so much.
All right. So, let's get more on now the suspected infections at that private school in Queens, New York, we've been telling you about. Our Susan Candiotti is joining us now.
So, what are we hearing about these likely infections, Susan?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Reggie, what we expect to learn today is whether any of those eight probable swine flu sick students are now actually confirmed cases.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): At least eight students of this private Queens prep school have probable swine flu. New York City health officials say the CDC is doing more tests to confirm whether it's swine flu. Results are expected on Sunday.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FRIEDEN, NYC HEALTH DEPT.: We have spoken with more than 100 of the children or families, and in every single case, illness was mild. Many of the children are feeling better. No child has been hospitalized. No child was seriously ill.
CANDIOTTI: Last Thursday, as many as 200 students at the same school said they felt like they had the flu. Health Department investigators are doing interviews to find out how they think they got sick. Thirty ill children at a Bronx daycare center are also being tested for possible infection. Authorities say they've had no uptick in flu cases at city hospitals and urged New Yorkers to take common sense precautions.
FRIEDEN: If you're sick, stay home. If you've got a fever and a cough, stay home. That helps you get better and it prevents you from spreading the disease to others. You shouldn't go to work, you shouldn't go to school.
If you're not very sick and you wouldn't have gone to the hospital if you hadn't heard about this announcement, don't go to the hospital now, there's no reason to. If you are very sick, if you're having trouble breathing, if you would have gone to the hospital anyway -- by all means, go to the hospital.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: New York Governor David Paterson also sent 1,500 courses of Tamiflu treatment to New York City to treat those who are found sob severely ill with swine flu.
Back to you, Reggie.
AQUI: Susan Candiotti, live in New York for us -- Susan, thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, President Obama was in Mexico a little more than a week ago, but Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president isn't showing any symptoms of the flu. The White House also says President Obama takes the situation very seriously and that he is getting updates from homeland security.
Let's give you an update on the weather outside. It is a Sunday. Some of you headed out a little bit later today. But as we've been talking about lately, some of that weather can be severe. Reynolds Wolf is here to talk about it.
It's always severe weather with you, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I know. I know. It was always a little bit of a flair for the dramatics is what we see (ph).
NGUYEN: Is that what it is?
WOLF: I think so. It sure seems that way, especially on weekends, things always get active.
NGUYEN: They're all about (INAUDIBLE).
WOLF: Yes. And you know, yesterday afternoon, we had some rough weather in parts of Oklahoma, back into Kansas, even into extreme north Texas. It could happen again today, where we have a tornado watch that's in effect for parts of Kansas, as we speak, until 1:00 o'clock local time.
Take a look at this video. We were checking this out earlier. You can see a tornado.
NGUYEN: Yes.
WOLF: Not only that but a lot of debris. It's going to pop up anywhere. Well, here's a look at the tornado watch.
NGUYEN: But that video is really amazing. You see the funnel cloud and then you see the debris that is just flying through the air. Maybe we can get it up for you.
WOLF: You can almost picture it, can't you, Betty?
NGUYEN: Yes. I'll draw you a picture.
WOLF: There you. Well, there's the tornado watch. That's the area until 1:00 o'clock Central Time. Anyone who happens to be in that area, be on the lookout, be prepared to take shelter if the storms do erupt and there is going to be that possibility that it could indeed happen.
Let's zoom in in a couple of key locations. I'm going to step over here to the magic wall. We're going to enlarge this. We're seeing some strong cells developing especially along parts of the I-70 corridor just near Hays -- a lot of these drifting up to the northeast as we speak.
Manhattan, Kansas, you're in the clear for the time being. Back over to Kansas City, you had strong storms move just through your south and right through the city. You had the precipitation. That is going to (INAUDIBLE). But you could see another round of that later on today. And one of the reasons why is because we're got all that -- all of those tools there to give us another round of severe weather.
We've got, of course, the moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. We need a frontal boundary, we've got that up. And an area of low pressure, we got several to deal with. And that combined with your daytime heating could give you that round of rough storms, damaging winds and large hail, perhaps more tornadoes -- again, stretching from just the western part of the Red River Valley back into Oklahoma and into Kansas. Still warm though for parts of the southeast or for the firefighters who are battling it out in, say, Myrtle Beach, same deal today -- very dry conditions. In fact, no rain in the forecast for Myrtle Beach until next Saturday. That's how it's going to be as long as that high pressure cell stays right off the coast, you're not going to see much in terms of precipitation.
Just the opposite for you in the Great Lakes from Detroit back over to Chicago, a little bit of rain. Back up to the west, central and northern Rockies, that rain, but snow at times, it could be fairly heavy.
OK. That's a look at your forecast. Let's send it back to you guys at the news desk.
NGUYEN: A lot going on. Thank you, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
AQUI: Well, we were shocked by "Maude" and I think a lot of us fell in love with her character Dorothy. We are going to remember actress Bea Arthur.
NGUYEN: Also, we're going to hear the reactions when T.J. Holmes asks influential African-Americans about President Obama and the GOP's new chief, Michael Steele.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
AQUI: Bea Arthur came unto the scene when sassy women, especially on television were novel. And America first fell in love with her as "Maude," then, of course, as Dorothy on the "Golden Girls." You could see her right back there as she's playing Estelle Getty.
NGUYEN: Right.
AQUI: That we also lost not too long ago.
NGUYEN: Exactly. I ...
AQUI: It's just a sad story when you heard it, wasn't it?
NGUYEN: I loved watching her on television.
AQUI: Yes.
NGUYEN: She was one of my favorite "Golden Girls." But yesterday, at the age of 86, the actress lost her battle with cancer and left us with plenty of memories though.
Here is CNN's Don Lemon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bea Arthur's opinionated character "Maude" first grabbed the attention of TV audiences in "All in the Family." She was so popular producer Norman Lear created a spin-off series.
During the '70s, the show tackled hot topics, including pornography, race relations, and in one episode titled, "Maude's Dilemma," abortion.
KATHRYN MONTGOMERY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES: At the age of 47, she got pregnant. She didn't want to have this baby. It was quite a shock to her. But she didn't see abortion as an option, until her daughter proposed that to her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "MAUDE")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, I've been thinking. There is no earthly reason for you to go through with this at your age. You know it, I know it, Walter knows it ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want you to talk about -- don't talk about it now!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, I think that Bea got a lot of mail -- hate mail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it would be wrong to have a child at our age.
ACTRESS BEA ARTHUR AS MAUDE: Oh, so do I, Walter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It spawned demonstrations from both sides of the issue. Many saw "Maude" as an enduring icon for women's liberation, a big deal for the shy Jewish girl.
Arthur was born Bernice Frankel in New York City. During the Depression, her family left the Big Apple and opened a clothing store in Cambridge, Maryland. By the time she was 12, Arthur was nearly 5'10" and self-conscious about her height.
She masked her insecurities with comedy, and eventually returned to New York to study acting. Along the way, she had a short-lived marriage, which she didn't talk about, but she kept her last name, Arthur.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: Singing and stage work earned her a living on and off Broadway. Critics delighted in her haughty, serpent-tongued deliveries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR: You're fat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: She won a Tony Award for the caustic character of "Vera Charles" in the play "Mame." Arthur reprised the role in the film version opposite Lucille Ball. Other movie roles followed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR: How bad can it be? It's just for the day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: But it was on TV's "Golden Girls" as Dorothy Zbornak that gave Arthur her other major success. The role earned her a second Emmy. The first was for "Maude." Arthur entered semiretirement after the show ended in 1992.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR: Good morning, Beth. Am I allowed inside the house?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: She returned to TV in sporadic guest appearances, but preferred to keep her schedule open for other things.
ARTHUR: Maybe a play, maybe a musical. There are so many things. Maybe a one-woman show, I don't know.
LEMON: Bea Arthur was definitely one woman every show she was on couldn't do without.
Don lemon, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
AQUI: Now, while the president's performance in office is being closely watched, T.J. Holmes spoke with some African-American leaders about Michael Steele.
NGUYEN: Yes. And he is the Republican Party's first black chairman. So, here's what the 100 Black Men of America had to say about him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do y'all think about Michael Steele?
(LAUGHTER)
JOHN THOMAS GRANT, CEO, 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA: I'll lead it.
HOLMES: All right.
GRANT: First of all, I'm proud of Michael Steele, you know? The fact that Michael Steele is in the position that two major parties in this country are headed by African-American men is an opportunity. I think that Michael Steele also is trying, from his best vantage point and ability, to lead the Republican Party in a different direction.
Now, whether the party is willing to go is another question. And I think he's being hammered by that. But the fact that he is in the job, I take pride in that. And without being in the job, there's no opportunity.
HOLMES: But when I said the name initially, you all went like (INAUDIBLE) and then laughed. So, what was that all about?
JOHN HAMMOND, CEO, 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA: I know the Republican Party is at a point in its history where it's struggling to find leadership. I think that it's hard to be a leader if you're going to equivocate on issues that are central to moving forward. I think, you know, one has to pick a direction and go in that direction and defend a point of view in the face of incredible challenge. That's what determines and that is where leaders are made.
I've heard reports and seen reports about some equivocation around some important issues. I think it's important that if Michael Steele or any other black leader is going to rise to a level of scrutiny that he is, is going to live successfully and represent so many others, then it's important that he demonstrate leadership in a very consistent way.
BISHOP EDDIE LONG, PASTOR, NEW BIRTH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: Michael is a personal friend of mine, and I ...
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: You were praying (ph).
(LAUGHTER)
LONG: But the situation with him -- and I hardly (ph) believe he is trying to lead the Republican Party back into a great posture. The question is, will they follow, number one. And I think that there was kind of a -- as you were saying, being president is no real manual, it's on-the-job training, even with that, a new frontier and the opportunities presented to him as an African-American, his heart and commitment towards everything he does is very, very positive. But, yet, it's on-the-job training, and again, because you're going into new territory.
BERNARD TAYLOR, SR. ATTORNEY, ALSTON & BIRD: I think he's got a tough job. But we all know that many of our grandparents and great grandparents were Republicans. And they were Republicans for a reason. And if Michael can tap into that, then I think he can make a big difference in regards the appeal of the Republican Party across the -- across the group of African-Americans and the rest of our society. (END VIDEO CLIP)
AQUI: On Wednesday night at 7:00 Eastern, a CNN primetime special, 100 days of the Obama presidency. Our "National Report Card" will give you the chance to grade the president and Congress to see how well they have done.
Then at 8:00 Eastern, President Obama will hold a news conference where he will show how he is doing, in his words, of course.
NGUYEN: Well, chief national correspondent John King has been following the Obama presidency every step of the way these first 100 days. And you know he has insights and reporting that you will not hear anywhere else.
AQUI: And a college professor is the target of a manhunt. Was he responsible for a triple murder near a Georgia campus?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. A lot of things on the table. You got the president's 100th day in office coming up this week. And we've been telling you all weekend-long about the swine flu outbreak. And, you know, "STATE OF THE UNION" is coming up, with John King. He's here to talk about a lot of this.
And first up, John, I want to ask you about the administration. I know it's been monitoring the situation with the swine flu. In fact, there have been some questions as to whether the president may have come in contact with it since he was down in Mexico not too long ago.
JOHN KING, "STATE OF THE UNION" HOST: That was an interesting question, Betty, because the president and his delegation was in Mexico as part of his recent international trip. Of course, people would ask, "Well, about what about the president?" The White House says he's fine. He was not exposed to the swine flu.
But they have had a number of meetings starting on Friday at the White House to see whether the United States is ready for this, what needs to be done and not only the United States but, as you, guys, have been talking about all morning -- how to coordinate with Mexico and with others around the world if this spreads in a more dangerous way, and that's what people are worried about that as they track the early cases of it.
So, we'll have Valerie Jarrett. She's one of the president's top advisers right here on "STATE OF THE UNION" in a few minutes. And we're going to ask her that question, just what -- how bad do they think this is and what they're going to do about it.
NGUYEN: Yes, what kinds of precautions are being put in place.
AQUI: Now, John, I don't know if you're familiar with this. But, on Wednesday, it will be the president's 100th day in office.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: I'm shock. Are you kidding me?
AQUI: Yes, this is breaking news here.
NGUYEN: I know it's news to you, John.
AQUI: So, given the fact that he is relatively new to the national and -- let's face it -- international stage, what have been some of the surprises that he's encountered over that 100 days?
KING: It's an interesting question, Reggie, because people look at this through their own interest. You know, if you care about the economy, if you're unemployed, you're trying to judge the president by how he's doing at getting you a job and getting the economy back on track. If you're someone who thought the Bush administration maybe diminished the U.S. stature in the world, you've watched these two overseas trips for a sense of whether things really will be different with President Obama in the White House.
If you talk to senior White House officials, here's what they are most happy about: They believe he still has the American people support -- more than two-thirds of the American people support him when it comes to dealing with the economy. His personal approval ratings, people like him, they like his family, they like the images they've seen from this White House. Those are off the chart comparable perhaps only to Ronald Reagan.
And they think, what they're surprise about -- remember this is a 47-year-old African-American man, a young man, the first African- American president -- they were thinking, will the American people see him as a president? Whether you support his policy or not, will you look at him and say, "That's the president"? He seems comfortable in the job. And they say their biggest surprise is that, across the country, again, even Republicans look at President Obama and say, "Yes, I can see that, he's the president."
NGUYEN: But, you know, the first 100 days isn't just a complete love fest. I mean, there's got to be those awkward moments, those rookie mistakes or any do-overs that maybe he'd like to take if he could?
KING: Oh, without a doubt, Betty, they'd like to go back and have a cleaner transition. Remember early on, everybody said this was the best transition anybody could remember. And then you had Tim Geithner who is the treasury secretary and his tax problems. Tom Daschle's nomination to be health and human services secretary went off the rails because of his past tax problems. They've had some delays, and now, they have a number of jobs unfilled because they've gotten so much more cautious going back through with all the background checks. There's no question they would like to do that again and get that better.
There are a number of other -- you know, should they have better relationship with Republicans at this point, that's a big debating point. This whole debate we'll talk about this morning about releasing these Bush administration torture memos, that's a big debate. They think they handled that just right but they acknowledge inside the White House that that was an anguished process to get to the ultimate decision to make these top secret memos public.
AQUI: All right. So, tell us about what is on your show today. I know that you're going to have a new contributor to your show, kind of reuniting and it feels so good.
NGUYEN: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: We should roll the music.
KING: Mary Matalin is back in the fold here at CNN as a contributor. And she and her husband, James, Mary is a Republican.
NGUYEN: Yes.
KING: James is a Democrat. You'll get that they occasionally disagree.
NGUYEN: It's a great relationship.
KING: It's a really fascinating thing. We're happy to have them because they are both incredibly smart individuals, and when they get together, they add a very spicy debate. They disagree about a lot of issues and they will appear together only on "STATE OF THE UNION."
And we're very, very excited about that in the program. We're going to ask them about these first 100 days, not only about how is the president doing, but what about the Republican Party and has the Republican Party recovered from its losses yet and is it beginning to find its voice?
We'll also talk about these torture memos. We got three great members of the United States Senate here. At the end of the show today -- fascinating insights from the guy who, every day, looks at history through the lens of his camera. Pete Souza is the official White House photographer.
NGUYEN: Wow.
KING: And also served in that role at the end of the Reagan administration. We will have some never-before-seen photos of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama inside the White House, and the perspective of a guy who was with the president almost his every waking moment.
AQUI: John, I talked to him at the convention last summer and he's a fascinating guy. He's really funny.
NGUYEN: Yes, looking forward to that.
KING: He's a great guy and he was a great news photographer, too, in his, you know, in his day job before he joined the government -- a fascinating and courageous news photographer as well. So, we're glad and pretty excited (ph).
NGUYEN: Yes. I can't wait to see those pictures. OK, John, we are looking forward to it and we will see you shortly. "STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING" in about 30 minutes from now, 9:00 a.m. Eastern -- don't miss it.
Also, we are going to head to the hot zone, that being Mexico right now, where a strain of swine flu is taking a terrible toll.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
AQUI: Welcome back. I'm Reggie Aqui, in for T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning everybody thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
Well, the World Health Organization is calling an outbreak of swine flu an emergency of international concern.
Here is the latest. At least 81 deaths in Mexico are likely linked to the virus. Testing confirms another 20 cases there.
And since yesterday, two more cases in the U.S. have been confirmed, those in Kansas; now the nine others in Texas and Southern California. So that brings the total number of confirmed cases in the U.S. to 11.
And there could be more. Tests suggests swine flu is likely in eight New York school students also 22 students and teachers from New Zealand who just returned from Mexico may have been infected as well.
Several nations have issued travel notices because of the outbreak. US Airways is allowing passengers with plans to fly to Mexico to change them without charging any penalties.
In fact, our Ted Rowlands is in a rather nervous Mexico City right now and he joins us by phone. And Ted, I understand schools are closed but what else is the city doing to really try to contain this outbreak?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Betty, basically, they are spreading the word and spreading out masks. There's a lot of people downtown here in Mexico City have masks. We're across right now from the metropolitan cathedral.
And that's another thing they are doing, they are basically halting all major public events. A mass here at the cathedral has been canceled for this morning. A soccer match yesterday in Mexico City went on. The players were there but the fans were not. They were told to stay away from watching that and people have been told to stay away from watching that and people have been told to stay away from large public gatherings.
Last night, more than 600 different venues, movie theaters, restaurants, et cetera, were closed here in Mexico City as a precautionary method. So it's a two-pronged approach. And the other thing they're doing is urging people feeling any symptoms at all to urgently get help immediately. If they think they have flu symptoms get to a medical professional to get the help need. Because one of the things that Felipe Calderon did yesterday in TV is hold up the medicine and say we can help you if you're sick. We have enough medicine. Get help.
NGUYEN: Yes, so that's got to be the key. Because we're looking at 81 deaths in Mexico, but as you look at the cases in the U.S., 11 cases, none of those have died from it. So is it really just a situation of people not getting to the hospital in time?
ROWLANDS: Well theoretically, yes, one would guess that. You know, who knows for sure. Who knows what's coming in the days ahead here around the world, depending on the spread of this.
But the bottom line here in Mexico City is that people are being told to take these precautions. And one of the things that is very evident on the streets here is that the word is definitely out. I mean, everybody you've talk to is either wearing a mask or when you ask them if they are aware of it, they say, yes, but they've just chosen not to wear a mask.
But it's clearly, the message is out here now.
NGUYEN: But you know what's interesting about those masks, and I was just asking Dr. Sanjay Gupta about this because he said that if it's not a particular type of mask, the virus is so tiny and so minuscule, that even with a mask like this one that I'm holding up right here which I know you can't see Ted, that this is not even going to do the trick.
So my question to you is that even though you know helping with some of those fears, what is the overall mood there? I mean, is there a sense of worry on the streets?
ROWLANDS: Yes and no. When you drill down and you really talk to people, they say are you worried about this? They say, yes, worried but then you keep asking questions and they say, well, you know, I don't know anybody who has it. And we're talking about a city with millions of people and only a thousand plus, 1,500 approximately that have come down with this.
So it is still a minuscule amount of people to put it in perspective. So people are worried. And the key is -- and the masks show that people are taking precautions. Really whether the masks work or not...
NGUYEN: Right.
ROWLANDS: ...it is a clear indication that they are aware of what's going on, and more importantly, most likely is that if they do feel symptoms you bet that those people wearing those masks are going to seek help.
NGUYEN: And that is key absolutely key. Last question, are you wearing a mask?
ROWLANDS: I am but now that you've told me my mask may not work, I may put it in my pocket.
NGUYEN: All right, don't worry. Sanjay Gupta is headed down there and he's got masks in hand and he'll hook up with you. Thank you so much, Ted.
Well, we'll be talking with you shortly, stay safe.
ROWLANDS: Ok.
AQUI: And that brings up a really good question. That if you're traveling, what should you be doing? Well, this is what the CDC is saying right now.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue away. Wash your hands often with soap and water, alcohol base cleaners work as well and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, because that's how germs spread. Basically this stuff that you hear, in cold season, in flu season.
NGUYEN: Yes, absolutely.
Let's talk about this now for a minute because Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has wrapped up unannounced visit to Lebanon today. Clinton's visit was to show support for the President Michel Suleiman, the recent election or re-election efforts, I should say.
Lebanese voters go to the polls in June while the U.S. is backing the incumbent, a serious influence in the elections could bring Hezbollah to power in the Mediterranean country.
AQUI: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner talks money today with finance officials from around the world. Geithner is attending closed door meetings at the joint World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Now, the sessions are being held at the World Bank's headquarters in Washington this morning. Then this afternoon, Geithner hosts round table talks with Treasury Ministers from several African nations.
NGUYEN: Students at Hampton University in Virginia have been on lockdown this morning. Police are going over the scene of the shooting of a dormitory there that took place just after midnight.
Students weren't involved, instead though, police say a university employee and two other people were hurt. We are also told that the suspect is a former student and that person is in custody.
Well, every police department in the country is on the lookout for this marketing professor from the University of Georgia. Take a good look. Police say George Zinkhan killed three people, and one of them was his ex-wife.
The shooting unfolded outside a community theater in Athens, Georgia, where the victims and the suspect all volunteered. Police say Zinkhan dropped off his children with a neighbor and he has not been seen since.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who could imagine something like this? A quiet Saturday, a normal Saturday, neighbor asks you to watch their kids for an hour and then this; shocking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's so difficult. I'm just in complete and utter shock. I don't even -- I don't know why someone would do something like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You reach a certain age, you're going to know people that have passed away but not three people all at one time and three people that you know well and then you've just seen. That's just something that you don't perceive that is going to take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: And to add to that shock, the University of Georgia administrators tell us that Zinkhan has an impeccable track record and teaching credentials.
AQUI: I'm going to introduce you to something called Compassion Art, it began as a movement to help eradicate poverty.
For a week last year some of the world's most gifted song writers cleared their schedules to go on retreat in Scotland. The goal? To make a record that'll make a difference.
CNN's Don Lemon has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Israel Houghton is a two-time Grammy Award winning Christian Worship leader and singer, mostly known for his cross-cultural style of music.
He joined the Compassion Art Project which began as an Aha moment for creator and founder Martin Smith who is also a musician.
Many of the people he was reaching out to with his Christian music were living in slums. The revelations started the groundwork for Compassion Art.
ISRAEL HOUGHTON, MUSICIAN: It's not been done at this level before, where every record company, and there were five or six different record companies that had to say yes to it. There were several different publishers that had to say yes to it and every writer said no problem.
LEMON: Smith began creating the infrastructure for a global charity that challenged the artists to put their art where their compassion is.
HOUGHTON: The thing that was very intriguing to me was this is not, "hey, do this and write a check." This is do this and designate your future earnings and future royalties and residual income that comes out of publishing to this. And it was a no-brainer for me.
LEMON: The retreat was set in a landscape that seems right for inspirations.
HOUGHTON: The hope is that you write a song that makes millions and millions, but that was sort of a joke throughout the week is like ok, we're really writing for money now.
LEMON: The artists have agreed half of the proceeds from the project will benefit their charity. The other half will fund collective charities selected by the group; charities that support the poorest countries in the world.
HOUGHTON: When I travel worldwide, I'll catch CNN International or BBC and I'll be like, "Wait! They didn't tell me that on my -- on the -- back home." I know we have poverty here, but we have not known poverty like it's known in Zimbabwe right now or in many, many nations of the world.
LEMON: The words to Israel's song "The Power of One" are his personal call to service.
"Power of One" is also a nudge for those who think their contributions don't mean much.
HOUGHTON: A lot of people say to me, listen, I don't have a passport. I'm assuming you got to cross the ocean into India or Africa to really, really, really change the world. And I'm saying, no, just cross the room. Maybe you're the one to start a revolution.
LEMON: A revolution of one, spreading and giving voice to many.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AQUI: And check this out. Those involved with the project say 100 percent of the royalties go to help the poorest of the poor around the world. If you want to learn more, just go to compassionart.tv -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, well hey, look who is with me right now. We've got Carl Azuz from CNN Student News. We're talking credit today, we're talking President Obama, we are talking lots of things. And you know what? We're breaking it down in a way that students can understand it as well.
You want to stay tuned for this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Giving you a little "Extra Credit" this morning with Carl Azuz of CNN Student News. You know the great thing about our viewers they may have some kids in school who definitely know who you are because there is an interactive thing that you have going on that a lot of people are just joining in and they're giving you responses and those are students. CARL AZUZ, CNNSTUDENTNEWS.COM: They absolutely are. We actually have a quiz for you today that is going to be challenging for adults as well.
NGUYEN: Oh. Ok.
AZUZ: One of the things we cover on CNN Student News, a lot of the big topics that you see on CNN, we're competing with text messages and with video games and things like that. We want to make it interactive.
This week, President Obama met with the heads of credit card companies to discuss possible credit reform. Here is today's trivia question for you about credit. When was the first universal credit card introduced, 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s? Any guesses from the anchor desk?
NGUYEN: I know the answer.
AQUI: I'm going to guess '50s.
NGUYEN: That is what I guess, too.
AZUZ: And you are both were dead on. That's exactly right.
AQUI: Isn't it department store or something or...
AZUZ: Well, individual stores offered cards as early as the 1920s.
AQUI: Ok.
AZUZ: And of course, other stores, through log books and ledgers before that. But it was in the 1950s that you had the first universal cards which could be used at multiple places.
NGUYEN: That was an easy question, though. It's the thing that makes sense, you know.
AZUZ: It wasn't easy for students.
NGUYEN: Oh. Maybe that's why we're not students. Something else that you're talking about, this new -- a feature that is applying to the adult audience as well?
AZUZ: Well, yes. I mean, we have a lot of feedback from adults; an adult who wrote in recently saying, "Hey, look, we appreciate how you guys explained Ponzi schemes. So we're writing topics that could apply to adults, tips that people can use.
This past week was Earth Day. We have some tips on conservation for you right now. One of them -- reduce the things you bring home. If you buy a shirt, don't bring home the bag. It cuts down on the stuff you have to throw away and cuts down on the stuff that winds up in landfills. Reuse by handing down. If you have old clothes your kids aren't going to wear them but someone in need might. So rather than throwing those away if they're still good, hand them -- give them away to people in need and then recycle whatever you can.
And this doesn't necessarily mean calling waste management. It could be as simple as taking the paper you have at work to the recycle bin instead of the trash can.
AQUI: All right, Carl. You have a blog that you're working on.
AZUZ: Oh, yes.
AQUI: So what is the topic this week for us?
AZUZ: Well this week, CNN is preparing to cover Obama's first 100-days in office; the president's first 100-day milestone. And so we are asking students who live and breathe by grades to grade the president. And you don't need to be a student.
If you logon to our blog at CNNstudentnews.com, click on from A to Z, let us know what you think of how the president is doing. And we have a grade scale set up and you can also leave a comment to let us know why you graded him the way you do.
NGUYEN: I love how it's interactive. Speaking of being interactive, you have a shout-out?
AZUZ: Yes, we have a couple of shout-outs for people watching. We've got Mr. Florkowski's class in Detroit Michigan who's watching this. Thank you. And Ocean Bay Middle School in Myrtle beach, South Carolina. They've actually been affected by the fires recently.
AQUI: Oh, you're right.
They've been requesting on our Facebook page for a shout-out so here you guys go.
AQUI: Much deserved.
NGUYEN: Very good. And study up, students because you'll have more quizzes coming up.
AZUZ: Oh, yes, all week long.
NGUYEN: We better study up as well, right?
AQUI: We did well, though.
NGUYEN: Yes, it's a lucky guess.
AZUZ: Anytime -- harder.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
AZUZ: Thank you, guys. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: This is our developing story. All weekend long we've been talking about it and that being the swine flu. In fact, there is going to be a White House briefing coming up today at 12:30 Eastern to discuss this.
Take a look at this map. This gives you an idea of where the cases are in the United States. They are in the Texas area, California, Kansas, and possibly in New York. Eight students there may have swine flu. Those tests results have not been determined as of yet.
But something that's interesting that came up overnight, there were some students that were traveling to New Zealand on a school trip along with three teachers and 22 students. They were in Mexico and it appears that they may have also contracted swine flu as well.
AQUI: And we should note, that that 12:30 briefing that is going to be happening from the white house, we are going to be hearing from Secretary Janet Napolitano from the Department of Homeland Security. Because, of course, that's an issue that comes into this as well.
We should let you know that earlier today, Dr. Sanjay Gupta was here and he was taking your questions. He was also talking to an expert in all this. He was talking to the director of the CDC's respiratory and infectious disease division. Here is a part of their conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANN SCHUCHAT, DIRECTOR, CDC RESPIRATORY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES DIVISION: At this point for the whole country we think people who have respiratory illness who have recently traveled to Mexico, for instance, ought to be consulting with their doctors about illness. And in certain areas, they've issued different guidance. So it's really important for viewers to know what's going on where they live because it may not be similar recommendations everywhere.
But for everybody, we think it's important if you have respiratory illness, high fever and cough and such, stay home, don't go to work or school and don't infect other people around you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: We want to put the symptoms up on the screen for you because it does appear to look like just your average flu. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and headache. In fact, I spoke with Dr. Sanjay Gupta a little bit earlier and I said, "What is the difference between swine flu and a regular flu?" Right now, they are trying to determine that.
There is a lot of questions out there and as Reggie mentioned, there is going to be that 12:30 White House briefing to discuss this. And the homeland security secretary is going to there and that leads to the question of if people are traveling to Mexico where this apparently originated, according to reports, and coming back to the U.S. should there be some kind of travel restrictions?
We know that South Korea has put in some restrictions to test airline passengers arriving from the United States. Is that going to be something that happens here in the U.S? When you're traveling? Are you going to be tested? A lot of questions out there. Hopefully, a lot of answers in this White House briefing that is going to be taking place at 12:30 Eastern time today.
AQUI: I just got this in my inbox. In addition to the department homeland security secretary we're also going to be hearing from a man that we had the opportunity to talk to yesterday, the acting director for the CDC. So that doctor will also speak at the news conference, again at 12:30 Eastern and we will be monitoring that.
Sleep deprivation, locking prisoners in boxes and simulated drowning. The Justice department didn't think that was torture but others strongly disagree.
NGUYEN: And now that the secrets are out about U.S. interrogation tactics we are looking at who is in the loop and who might be held responsible.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
AQUI: Some call it enhanced interrogation but others use a different term, torture. President Obama has opened a huge debate about when he released secret CIA memos written during the last administration.
Tom Foreman takes a look how far up the knowledge actually went.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Six months after 9/11, the top secret torture debate begins with the capture of al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah. According to the new released timeline, the CIA believes he has information about a pending attack and wants to make him talk with so-called enhanced interrogation techniques.
National security adviser Condoleezza Rice says ok as long as the Justice Department under John Ashcroft says the techniques is legal. Justice approves everything from stress positions and sleep deprivation to locking the prisoner in a box to water-boarding that simulated drowning.
Justice says many of the techniques are used to train U.S. Soldiers in exercises like this one and because they do not cause severe mental suffering or physical pain in these limited circumstances anyway, they are not torture.
The program expands to include more al Qaeda prisoners. We don't know precisely who knew what when in the White House, but by 2003, among those getting direct updates are the Vice President, the FBI and, notably, brought into the loop only then, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. As the Justice Department again reviews and approves the techniques, those secret legal opinions are used to back the public position.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States does not permit, tolerate, or condone torture under any circumstances.
FOREMAN: Congressional intelligence committee leaders are also briefed almost from the start, including now speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi. But listen.
NANCY PELOSI (D) HOUSE SPEAKER: We were not -- I repeat, we were not told that water-boarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used. Flat out. They never briefed us that this was happening. In fact, they said they would, if and when they did.
FOREMAN (on camera): In 2006, the Supreme Court rules that detainees should be protected by the Geneva Conventions contrary to what the Justice Department has said. But even as the president publicly revealed the CIA interrogation program, he remains firm.
GEORGE W. BUSH: This government does not torture people.
FOREMAN(on camera): Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AQUI: It has been my pleasure to sit next to you, Betty Nguyen.
NGUYEN: Great to have you here this weekend. Come back and join us.
AQUI: I will.
"STATE OF THE UNION" with John King is coming up next.
NGUYEN: First, now in the news.
There are more concerns today about the spread of the potentially deadly swine flu; 81 deaths in Mexico are likely linked to the virus. Twenty more cases have been confirmed. Here in the U.S., there are 11 confirmed cases but no deaths.
Tests show that eight kids at a private school in New York probably have it, too. The White House, though, plans to hold briefing on the swine flu outbreak at 12:30 eastern and we, of course, will bring that to you live.
In the meantime, though, police say a university professor shot and killed his ex-wife and two other people. A manhunt is under way right now for George Zinkhan, he teaches marketing at the University of Georgia in Athens. Zinkhan as you see him right there, he was last seen dropping his children off at a neighbor's house. We will continue to follow that story for you right here on CNN. But, in the meantime, we are talking about President Obama's first 100 days. We're going to get the latest right now with John King in "STATE OF THE UNION."
