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Quarantine Nurse Arrives in Maine; Christie Fights Back Against CDC Guidelines; Amber Vinson Declared Ebola Free; Lava Flows Threatens Hawaiian Town of 950 People; Captured ISIS Fighters to CNN

Aired October 28, 2014 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: No, thank goodness, but that Rhino's great. Have a great day. Thanks so much.

NEWSROOM starts now.

Happening now in the NEWSROOM quarantined nurse Kaci Hickox back home in Maine. But some people in her hometown are nervous about our homecoming.

I'll talk to a local official who says he's been getting a lot of calls from his community. People saying Kaci should have stayed in quarantine in New Jersey.

Plus I love you and I forgive you. Touching words this morning from the Washington shooter's cousin. Nate Hatch also tweeting it's the worst pain he's ever felt in his life.

And lava danger in Hawaii. Some amazing pictures coming from the big island. Red hot magma, thousands of degrees, homes threatened and get this, we're hearing reports that people are actually looting evacuated homes.

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And good morning, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

Fears of Ebola spread across the globe as borders tighten and monitoring reaches a fever pitch. In Pennsylvania this morning, the CDC reportedly says there are now 105 people being closely watched for symptoms of Ebola and that number will grow as the CDC says about 100 people every day arrive in the United States from West Africa.

In Maryland, Ebola tests have come back negative for one patient who has been in isolation at the University of Maryland Medical Center. And in New York, tests also negative for a 5-year-old boy who got sick after a trip to West Africa.

It's more than just monitoring for Australia, though. Visas to that nation are now on hold for anyone in the West African hot zone.

Now back to Kaci Hickox, the nurse who spent the weekend in isolation at a New Jersey hospital. She is now back home in Maine. She actually arrived overnight and is now staying at an undisclosed location where she will be monitored. Last hour, her attorney told CNN Hickox feels fine and she should not be under quarantine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NORMAN SIEGEL, KACI HICKOX'S ATTORNEY: If it turns out that her temperature is normal, she has no symptoms of the disease. There's no reason for her to be restricted. If there are symptoms, then you deal with it differently.

I'm not opposed to the fact that the government has the power to use quarantine. They just have to do it correctly and so far we bungled it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Despite saving lives in West Africa, Hickox is not returning home a hero. Many in her small hometown of Fort Kent, near the Canadian border, wished she would stayed in New Jersey under that 21-day quarantine.

Joining me on the phone is Mike Nadeau, a Maine state representative and a native of Fort Kent.

Good morning, sir.

MIKE NADEAU (R), MAINE STATE HOUSE: Good morning, Carol. How are you are?

COSTELLO: I'm good. First of all, have state lawmakers been informed of where Kaci Hickox is staying?

NADEAU: Her location has not been disclosed and it will probably stay that way for a while. I think until a plan is put out and shown to the public by the CDC in the state that things are being taken care of properly, it would be better to keep her location private.

COSTELLO: Why would it be better to keep her location private?

NADEAU: Until you quell some of the fears. I've seen some of the fears and I fielded a lot of phone calls about what's going on. I think that until the CDC from New Jersey and the state of Maine come up with a plan and had protocols or a system set up to quell the fears of the people we wouldn't be having a lot of these discussions.

The fear is that she's living with somebody and if he's in -- if he's not quarantined, then he goes to university, there is just -- there's just some information that people just do not know and it instills fear.

COSTELLO: Well, let's go back to those fears because Kaci Hickox's partner is a local college professor and you say his students are threatening to skip class if he's teaching. Is that right?

NADEAU: Well, some are. I've heard -- I haven't got exact specifics but some are saying that they would rather not attend classes until they know that the proper protections are in place, and we're better off to err on caution and educate the people at the same time.

I am not into spreading fear, but unless the plan is presented to the people in a timely fashion, I would err on the side of caution.

COSTELLO: And -- you know, I said earlier that she's not returning home a hero, yet she spent a month in West Africa treating the sickest of patients. How do people perceive her in her home state?

NADEAU: Well, I can tell you I've seen and heard all kinds of comments. I applaud her work. I applaud her efforts. The only thing that I would say is, if you're going to go out and do these things, that being put under quarantine is one of the things that's going to happen. Our troops are returning and they're going under mandatory quarantine and a lot of them have not had contact with patients to begin with.

So it seems that the protocols are not even for everybody, and so I think we're not as prepared as times when people re-enter the U.S. as they say we are.

COSTELLO: Maine State Representative Michael Nadeau joining us live. Thank you so much, sir. I appreciate it.

NADEAU: Thank you.

COSTELLO: The latest CNN/ORC poll shows most Americans are not panicking over Ebola and are confident the federal government can prevent an epidemic. On the question, how the government should handle foreign citizens traveling to the United States from West Africa, 30 percent said all should be banned from reentering the United States, 69 percent said quarantine those with Ebola symptoms but let others into the country.

The same question dealing with U.S. citizens traveling back from the Ebola zone, 20 percent said keep all of them out of the country but 78 percent said quarantine those with symptoms, but let others come back into the United States.

That said, the federal government along with the CDC did come up with new guidelines on how to treat people who have come into contact with Ebola patients, although New York, New Jersey, and even the Pentagon are ignoring them.

And here goes. The CDC has established four categories of risk. Only high-risk people could be quarantined. High risk is defined as someone who has come into contact with bodily fluids or who has been pricked by a needle.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins me now.

Welcome, Sanjay.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning. So does Kaci Hickox fall into the CDC's high risk category?

GUPTA: No, I was looking at that. It looks like she would fall into a category of risk just below that, the some risk category. People who are at higher risk have almost a more known exposure, even a -- even up to something like a prick of the skin with a needle, that may have Ebola in it. So she'd be more in the some risk category which would -- you know, basically means that she'd be taking her temperature twice a day, would not be, you know, mandatory quarantined.

My understanding is now in Maine she'll have a voluntary quarantine which she's going to be doing.

COSTELLO: Well, you've heard the Maine state representative say that his constituents are confused about these new guidelines, the New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is coming out against those guidelines. Listen to what he told the "Today" show this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: The fact is that the CDC has been incremental on this. This newest guidance from my perspective is incredibly confusing. And by the way what's the difference with someone who's considered to be high risk? You don't want them on public transportation, you don't want them at public gatherings and you want them to work from home. That sounds like quarantine to me, Matt.

MATT LAUER, "TODAY" SHOW HOST: Is it possible --

CHRISTIE: And listen, we --

LAUER: Is it possible --

CHRISTIE: Let me just finish this, Matt.

LAUER: Governor, you're on the wrong side of science here --

CHRISTIE: We had experience --

LAUER: -- but the right side of public opinion?

CHRISTIE: No. I'm going to be on the right side of both ultimately, Matt. And I understand that the CDC is going to be behind on this, folks got infected in Texas because they were behind and we're not going to have folks being infected in New Jersey and other states in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So, Sanjay, is the governor right?

GUPTA: Well, you know, with respect to the fact that this is confusing, I agree with him. With respect to the fact that the Ebola -- sorry, the CDC guidelines on Ebola have been somewhat incremental, I'd agree with regard to the garb, for example, I don't think they recommended adequate garb, adequate protection initially. There were parts of the skin exposed.

But I think one thing that had stayed consistent, though, still is the science. And that is that people cannot get sick unless they come in contact with someone who is already sick with Ebola. So that part has not changed and if you look closely at the CDC guidelines, it does reflect the science they've been saying all along. There's not a mandatory quarantine as part of any of these high-risk groups.

COSTELLO: OK, so let me run something else that seems confusing then. The CDC supposedly relying on science but the Pentagon is kind of ignoring the guidelines. And I'll give you an example. Soldiers who worked in West Africa who did not come close to an Ebola patient are confined to a base in Italy for 21 days. Why?

GUPTA: It's -- why is the right question. Again, I don't think that reflects science. I understand that it's confusing because now you have several states who are doing one thing. The -- at least a part of the Department of Defense is doing something else and the CDC recommending something else. The CDC is probably the most scientifically based guidelines but they're also the least enforceable.

I mean, there's no mandate power behind these guidelines. They are just guidelines and recommendations and people are doing with it what they feel they should. It's a collision of fear and science, Carol. That's what it is.

COSTELLO: OK, so, see here is something else that confuses people. With the exception of Mr. Duncan, the Ebola patient treated here in the United States, you know, Mr. Duncan died, but the other patients who come down with Ebola are recovering. So -- and an example of that right now, Amber Vinson, she's at Emory right now, and she's going to be released later this afternoon, so should we change our mind about how dangerous, how deadly Ebola can be?

GUPTA: Well, yes. I think, you know, the numbers that we've looked at for so long have been reflective of what was happening in Central and West Africa under very much more remote conditions, not nearly the same sort of capabilities to even provide IV fluids as we can here in the United States.

So eight out of nine patients who have been treated in the United States have now survived, compare that with mortality rates as high as 90 percent, nine out of 10 have died in the past in some of these outbreaks so it's much better.

And I should also point out something else, Carol, as much as we worry about, you know, people being on subways, bowling alleys and flying on planes, besides Nurse Nina Pham and Nurse Amber Vinson, there haven't been any secondary infections. We haven't had anybody else who got sick in some other way, from that plane flight or on that subway. And I think, you know, it's -- it will take a while for that to sink in. But I think once it does it'll provide people a more sense of comfort.

COSTELLO: I hope so, and Amber Vinson will no doubt be talking about that. I want to head out to Emory right now. CNN's Nick Valencia is there.

Amber Vinson is set to be released, what, around 1:00 this afternoon Eastern Time?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Carol. We're expecting to hear the first public statements from Dallas nurse Amber Vinson at about 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Her first comments since being declared Ebola free by health officials.

She was brought here to Emory Hospital Serious Communicable Disease Unit on October 15th after being transferred from her home hospital in Dallas, Texas Presbyterian. They said there was a staffing issue so she had to be moved over here.

Now those viewers at home who have been following the story since the beginning know that Emory University has a strong track record for success in treating Ebola patients. This is going to be the fourth person who's expected to be released after recovering from the illness, and if you remember, Amber Vinson is one of two nurses in Dallas who was treating a Liberian patient, Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan. They contracted the virus, both Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, Carol, now declared Ebola free.

COSTELLO: All right, Nick Valencia, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks to both of you.

GUPTA: You bet.

COSTELLO: More top stories for a Tuesday morning.

The county sheriff says Washington state high school shooter Jaylen Fryberg invited his victims to lunch by text message, then shot them at their able. Fryberg then committed suicide.

Israel is reportedly announcing plans to build some 1,000 new housing units in areas of Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinians. The move expected to further stroke tensions in the city after months of violence.

Outgoing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has won election to his old city council seat. His brother, Doug, was running to take over the mayor's slot but lost.

Have you filled up lately? Gas prices continue to plummet. AAA saying the national average is now just above three bucks. Memphis has the cheapest gas at $2.73 a gallon.

"The Wall Street Journal" is reporting this morning that YouTube is considering paid ad-free subscriptions. The company is reportedly also looking into a music subscription service. No word on how much either would cost you.

That's a look at your headlines this morning. NEWSROOM is back after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A village in Hawaii preparing for a potential disaster, red hot lava from the still erupting Kilauea volcano is closing in on homes and businesses on the big island.

All residents can do is sit, wait or run. The 2,000 degree river of molten rock is swallowing everything in its path, consuming fields, flowing through fences and turning roads into fiery rivers of dark ooze.

Mother Nature isn't the only threat to the community either. Believe it or not, there are reports of looters targeting the homes of residents who have been forced to flee.

CNN's Martin Savidge is on the big island.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

It's been a very nervous night here in the town of Pahoa. Point of reference, see the white roof? I can see it, maybe the camera can't. There's an orange glow in the sky and the pall of smoke. That is the lava and it's about 70 yards away from the nearest home, danger literally on the doorstep.

This is the main road through town and the lava's going to cut right across it.

(voice-over): Lava on Main Street in Pahoa, on the big island, a 2,000 degree river, a molten rock is just a few hundred feet away from the town and there is no way to stop it.

Residents are on a moments' notice to evacuate as the superheated stone threatens the town of 950.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone including myself is nervous. You can't see the future. The flow does what the flow does.

SAVIDGE: Hawaii's famous Kilauea volcano has continuously erupted since 1983. Usually, the spectacular lava flows pour south, eventually reaching the sea.

But in June, a new flow started heading the opposite way to the Northeast, the dark oozing mass consuming everything in its path. Experts say the lava has picked up speed as it heads directly for Pahoa.

Hawaii's governor signing a request asking for a presidential disaster declaration and for federal aid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As it gets closer, the key is communication, that the community, keeping people informed and everybody continue to work around the clock.

SAVIDGE: Officials going door to door warning residents as the flow inches dangerously close. Already some roads have been forced to close as the lava overtakes them, with many residents fearing they'll be cut off, Hawaii County is rebuilding alternate gravel roads around the expected path of the lava.

People downwind from the smoke have been advised to stay indoors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have asthma myself and the smoke conditions if they increase are going to be hard on some people.

SAVIDGE (on camera): The only hope the people of the town have is that the lava either stops or depose in another direction. Otherwise the force of nature that created the Hawaiian Islands could very well destroy this town -- Carol.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Scary stuff. Martin Savidge reporting.

CNN's Chad Myers joins me with more on what's next for the lava flow. That sounds dire.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It can be certainly. The lava tube has been going in one direction for many days, only about 100 yards wide, though.

Here is what happened overnight, a slight slowdown in the front, the front of that lava tube, the front of that flow has slowed down. Because there have been some breaks in the lava tube itself. It's like you're washing your car and someone cuts the hose, all of a sudden you don't have as much pressure washing your car because there's a leak somewhere and there is a leak today and that's the great news.

As Marty was saving, all of the lava has been going over in that direction. Now it changed, a crack opened up and it's moving toward Pahoa. That Pahoa area here, this line of red through here is where the lava has been going through cracks in the soil, and also here, cracks in the old lava itself, there's Pahoa cemetery, the good news is here and here we have had breaks in this lava tube.

Think of this lava tube, Carol, like this, the black part that you see, but under that, it's all molten lava. So it's going under here. It looks like it hardened but it isn't underneath. The more breaks we can get the less pressure is here, so therefore the slower, it's going to go that way.

Maybe it just fills in here for a while, and this slows down and that whole tube can harden up. That would be the good news.

COSTELLO: That would be terrific news.

Chad Myers, thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Still to come in THE NEWSROOM: a chilling look inside the minds of captured ISIS fighters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What would have happened to me if when you were with is, if you guys had found me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They would torture you for sure. They would not simply shoot a bullet in your head.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Our Ivan Watson talked with three ISIS foot soldiers captured by the Kurds. One claims he was given hallucinogenic drugs before going onto the battlefield.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: New video out this morning showing British hostage John Cantlie, instead of wearing the orange jumpsuit of an ISIS prisoner, as we've seen in the past, this time, he's wearing all black and acting as though he's a war correspondent working for ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN CANTLIE, BRITISH HOSTAGE: Hello. I'm John Cantlie. And today, we are in the city of Kobani on the Syrian/Turkish border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Based on certain references in the five-minute video, it appears to have been shot about a week ago, although Cantlie seems relaxed, experts who have reviewed the tape say he is under duress.

In this propaganda video, Cantlie says ISIS is in control of the Syrian town of Kobani. Facts on the ground, however, tell a far different story. U.S. Central Command said it hit targets in Syria with four air strikes while coalition partners carried out nine air strikes in Iraq.

Ivan Watson spoke with several ISIS fighters who have been captured by the Kurds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: We are in the prison run by Kurdish in northern Syria and being introduced to prisoners that the Kurds tell us were members of ISIS.

(voice-over): And the prisoners are brought in blindfolded and we quickly begin to wonder whether they're being forced to speak to us. During our visit here, the guards, who asked not to be shown, do not us allow us to see the cells where the prisoners are being held.

This man trembles with fear as a prison guard removes his blindfold.

I introduce myself as an American journalist and he begins to relax a little.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

He tells me he's a Syrian named Suleiman. He confesses to be part of an ISIS cell that planted and detonated a remote control car bomb outside a Kurdish base and says he received around $3,600 for completing the job.

(on camera): What is the idea that ISIS is fighting for?

SULEIMAN, CAPTURED ISIS MILITANT (through translator): They said they were fighting for Islam and justice. They were lying to us. They took advantage of our minds and our poverty.

WATSON (voice-over): One of the prisoners the guards bring out is barely a man.

(on camera): Your name is Kareem. How old are you?

KAREEM, CAPTURED ISIS MILITANT (through translator): I am 19 years old.

WATSON: But Kareem tells me he fought alongside ISIS across Syria for more than a year.

(on camera): Where were you injured?

(voice-over): He has the battle scars to prove it.

KAREEM: They gave us drugs, hallucinogenic pills that would make you go to battle not caring if you live or die.

WATSON: Before his capture by the Kurds, Kareem claims he saw ISIS behead many of its prisoners.

(on camera): Why does ISIS cut people's heads off?

KAREEM: Whenever ISIS goes no on area the eyes of ISIS, the people there who don't adhere to their Islamic law are apostates. Everything has to follow ISIS way.

Even women who don't cover their faces, women would also get their heads chopped off.

WATSON: The final prisoner is Jaber, a former school teacher and father of two who also confesses to a car bombing.

(on camera): What would have happened to me if, when you were with ISIS, if you guys had found me, an American journalist?

KAREEM: With ISIS, your fate would be death. And there are different kinds of death. They would torture you for sure. They might decapitate you or cut off your hands. They will not simply shoot a bullet in your head.

WATSON: It's impossible for CNN to confirm whether anything the prisoners tell us was true, or whether these men were coached by their captors. The Kurdish prison guards say if set free, every one of these men would likely go back and rejoin ISIS.

Ivan Watson, CNN, in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria.

(END VIDEOTAPE)