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Bridge Blockade - A Battle Over Desperately Needed Aid For Venezuela Sparks A New Escalation In The Country's Leadership Crisis; Global Measles Resurgence, The W.H.O. Sounds The Alarm As The Virus Hits Frightening New Levels Around The World, And Demographic Shift, How China's One Child Policy Is Coming Back To Haunt It. Aired: 8:00-9a ET
Aired February 07, 2019 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST, "NEWS STREAM": I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream." Bridge blockade - a battle over desperately
needed aid for Venezuela sparks a new escalation in the country's leadership crisis. Global measles resurgence, the W.H.O. sounds the alarm
as the virus hits frightening new levels around the world, and demographic shift, how China's one child policy is coming back to haunt it.
Venezuela's embattled President is barricading a bridge on the Colombian border preventing aid from reaching the millions of people in need of
humanitarian assistance. A CNN team in the Colombian city of Cucuta saw an orange oil tanker and two large containers stretched across the three-lane
bridge.
Mr. Maduro denies that there is a humanitarian crisis and has rejected offers of international aid declaring quote, "We are not beggars." But
desperate Venezuelans are using a second bridge to enter into Colombia and return loaded up with whatever they can manage.
Several bridges link Colombia and Venezuela. The Tienditas Bridge is where authorities have placed the road blockade just a few kilometers to the
south is the Simon Bolivar Bridge where pedestrians are crossing.
Meanwhile, opposition leader and self-declared interim President Juan Guaido is urging the military to let the aid through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUAN GUAIDO, SELF-DECLARED VENEZUELAN INTERIM PRESIDENT (Through a translator): We know the containers are traversing the border bridge
crossing. We know the tanks are there on the border and what we are saying is that it is an absurd reaction by a regime which is not interested in its
citizens and we are going to do everything we can so that some of this aid gets in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Stefano Pozzebon is following the story from the Venezuelan capital, but first let's go straight to CNN's Isa Soarez, live at the
pedestrian bridge in Cucuta, Colombia and Isa, describe the scene around you.
ISA SOAREZ, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Good morning to you, Kristie. It is 8:00 a.m. here in Colombia. The border between Venezuela
and Colombia has been open for two hours or so.
Behind me is Venezuela. You can see far off to those white tents, that's Venezuela. The stream of people coming in right now, they are coming in
from Venezuela to Colombia and they're coming into Colombia to do shopping, to get vaccinations. Some of them to work.
This has been the constant flow that we've been seeing because of this crisis. To give you a sense of the numbers, 32,000 people, Kristie, make
this journey every day according to migration in Colombia. People come in with a wad of money, money that is worthless in many ways, and they come
here to buy basic staples. Staples they need for every day.
I have spoken to people who have bought pretty much eggs - a lot of eggs, milk, flour, a lot of nappies, diapers, so basically important, basic goods
that everyone needs. And people are extremely desperate. And when I stop them and I ask them, who is to blame for this? Time after time, I get
people telling me "Maduro." "We are starving. Please send in the aid." And one person telling me what Maduro has done is practically thrown a bomb
of hunger on them -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: It's incredible to see the scene behind you, these of waves of people that have to rely on this pedestrian bridge to cross to the other
side to get much needed aid while this transport bridge remains closed.
Let's go to Stefano who is standing by in Caracas, and Stefano, Juan Guaido has called on the conscience of the military to end the blockade, to let
aid into the country. We also know there's additional pressure coming from the White House. John Bolton says the U.S. might lift sanctions on the
Venezuelan military who support Guaido.
So inside the military, are loyalties shifting during this critical time?
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Yes, Kristie, and I think that behind those threats of John Bolton and the words of Guaido, we can see how concerted
the action is between the White House and the Venezuelan opposition right now because 10 days ago, the National Assembly here in Caracas passed and
started discussing an amnesty law meant to shelter and pardon all the military officials that would effectively defect against Maduro.
[08:05:07]
POZZEBON: At the same time, as you said, still no major cracks inside the military apparatus. Nicolas Maduro was, again, speaking to the military
and referred to those words by John Bolton straightaway yesterday in the evening here. I want you to take a listen to what Maduro said about John
Bolton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (Through a translator): Is John Bolton Venezuela's military chief? That's why we're going to tell John
Bolton what the thinking, doctrine and strength of the Bolivarian Armed National Forces are. Listen well, John Bolton. Here is the response of
the Armed Forces to your so-called coup makers. Let's say our slogan loudly. "Loyal always, traitors never," so it can be heard in Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: Those were the words by Nicolas Maduro, the embattled Venezuelan leader who is trying to portray an image of himself as the man in charge,
the Commander-in-Chief with a firm grip on the military. And the more this escalation goes on, the more this power tussle goes on here in Caracas with
dramatic consequences for the civilian population who are suffering the effects of the economic crisis here in Venezuela.
The more the power tussle goes on, the more the military looks like the final arbiter between the two clashing sides, between Maduro and Guaido and
both the leaders have made strong pitches to the military saying, "Join my side because I can protect you better," -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: A very critical moment. Let's talk more on the humanitarian angle with Isa Soarez, and Isa, Nicolas Maduro may say that Venezuela is
not a country of beggars, it's okay blockade this transport bridge. You've been talking to Venezuelans who have resorted to walking across the
border on this pedestrian bridge just to get what they need. When you talk to them about the reality of the ground in Venezuela, what do they tell
you?
SOAREZ: It's very sad when you hear and you hear what they have to do on almost a weekly basis. Every two or three days, they come here to buy
goods. And although we are seeing the people coming in, on the other side, just across, if I could get our cameraman, Jose to turn around, you can see
people already who have already been shopping and buying basic goods. A gentleman there, people already carrying goods they've bought and this is a
reality, Kristie.
To give you a sense of numbers, 90% or so of people are living in poverty in Venezuela, and I went to a hospital yesterday, a local hospital here
close to the border. And the doctor was saying to me that malnutrition is a huge concern. They've had pregnant women coming in who have never been
seen, bellies are practically too small for the months they're in.
This is a constant struggle every single day and this is the reality and although we've heard from Maduro saying this is not a humanitarian crisis,
people here are telling me a very different story. Let me just try and get the sense from people what they're buying. Senor, [Speaking in Spanish]
what are you going to buy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Speaking in Spanish].
SOAREZ: Food. [Speaking in Spanish]. What type of food?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Speaking in Spanish].
SOAREZ: Flour, pasta, rice. [Speaking in Spanish]. How often do you do this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Speaking in Spanish]
SOAREZ: Twice a week. [Speaking in Spanish]. Who do you blame?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Speaking in Spanish].
SOAREZ: The bad administration and the President at this time. This is what I've been hearing time and time again. Hours -- I was here for six
hours. The amount of people who are constantly blaming Maduro for bad administration, for causing them to come to this point of hunger and
starvation. This is it every single day. This is what these people are doing, 32,000, and if this is not a humanitarian crisis, Kristie, I really
don't know what is. Back to you.
LU STOUT: Isa Soarez, we thank you for your reports, for bringing us the people's stories. Stefano Pozzebon reporting live from Caracas, thank you
for the updates there. To you both, take care.
The European Union will not reopen talks on the Brexit agreement says the Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker who met with the British Prime
Minister Theresa May in Brussels earlier on Thursday. Mrs. May will meet the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk in the next hour.
The visit comes a day after Mr. Tusk made some very controversial remarks about some of Brexit's biggest backers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TUSK, EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT: I've been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even
a sketch of a plan how to carry it safely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: CNN's Erin McLaughlin is live for us in the Belgium capital with more and Erin, we have learned this day that the E.U. is standing firm. It
will not reopen talks. So what progress can Theresa May push for today?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristie, she has made it very clear in terms of what she wants out of the day's meetings. She wants to
impart an understanding of the U.K.'s situation.
[15:10:04]
MCLAUGHLIN: She wants to impart an understanding of what she believes she needs to get this Brexit deal across the line at Westminster and that
involves reopening the withdrawal agreement and renegotiating the Northern Ireland back stop which is the product of months of intense negotiations
between the E.U. and the U.K., previously signed off by her own government in order to ensure that there's no hard border on the Island of Ireland.
She says that that needs to be reopened and looked at again in order to get the amount of votes she needs to get this deal though. The problem, of
course, is that is a crimson red line for the European Union.
There was a meeting earlier this morning between Prime Minister May and the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. Out of that
meeting, they issued a joint statement. They called their conversation today quote, "robust and constructive" and said that their negotiators will
be meeting in the coming days to try and find a way forward, that they plan to meet again at the end of the month.
But frankly, it's very difficult to see given where both sides stand on this issue, how they will resolve this impasse. And further sort of
clouding this picture, according to diplomats I've been talking to is it's not clear to the E.U. at this point, they are not convinced that that is
what is necessary to get this deal across the line.
In the words of one diplomat, it's like trying to shoot a moving target in the dark. So that is where things stand. At present, Kristie, worth
noting that today marks 50 days until Brexit is scheduled, enshrined in U.K. law to happen, which is March 29th.
LU STOUT: Fifty days left. The countdown is on. Erin McLaughlin reporting live from Brussels. Erin, thank you.
Meanwhile, Brexit is weighing on the future of the British economy. A short time ago, the Bank of England slashed the U.K. growth forecast to
just over 1%. BoE Chief, Mark Carney warning that the economy simply is not prepared for a no deal Brexit. We're going to have much more on this
coming up on "First Move With Julia Chatterley," that starts in less than an hour.
Now to an increasingly ugly fight between House Democrats and the U.S. President. Donald Trump is blasting a new investigation by the House
Intelligence Committee. On Wednesday, the Committee's chairman, Adam Schiff announced a broad probe into whether President Trump's financial
interests are driving his actions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM SCHIFF, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: The American people have a right to know and they have a need to know that their
President is acting on their behalf and not for some pecuniary or other reason that pertains to any credible allegations of leverage by the
Russians or the Saudis or anyone else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now, Schiff said that the investigation will go beyond the extent of any links or coordination between Mr. Trump's team and Russia.
It will include whether foreign interests hold any kind of leverage over the U.S. President or anyone in his orbit and whether any of those people
is at risk of manipulation from abroad. It will also look at whether anyone has tried to obstruct the current investigations.
Joe Johns joins us now live from the White House and Joe, the President in that State of the Union address, he warned the Democrats to drop new
investigations against him. So how is President Trump reacting now that they are going ahead with this?
JOE JOHNS, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Kristie, you know, for a President who went quite the distance in his State of the Union address
calling for unity and bipartisanship, he's been lashing out bitterly at his political opponents who are now starting to launch as promised those
detailed investigations into his administration, as well as his personal financial affairs.
This is one example of it, a tweet just a little while ago that the President put out. It reads, "The Dems and their committees are going
nuts. The Republicans never did this to President Obama. There would be no time left to run government. That is blatantly untrue." I'll get to
more of that in a minute.
He writes, "I hear other committee heads will do the same thing, even stealing people who work at the White House." We don't know what that
means. We have asked the White House for clarification. He ends with his tagline, "A continuation of witch hunt."
The President has singled out Adam Schiff, who you referred to at the top, that's the new Democratic Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
The President, asked about it yesterday, had some choice words for Adam Schiff. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He is just a political hack who is trying to build a name for himself. It's called Presidential
harassment and it's unfortunate and it really does hurt our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Now, the truth is, this is divided government and whenever one party controls the White House and another party controls the House of
Representatives, there is extreme scrutiny. That happened, in fact, to President Obama with the Benghazi investigations, as well as investigations
into inappropriate alleged use of the IRS to put pressure on conservative groups.
[08:15:10]
JOHNS: It was also used against President Clinton, a Democrat, by Republicans in the Whitewater investigation and that led eventually to his
impeachment, though he was acquitted. But President Trump has more than once said he doesn't believe he ought to be subjected to a personal
scrutiny of his finances. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SCHMIDT, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK TIMES: Your finances and your family's finances, unrelated to Russia, is that a red line?
MAGGIE HABERMAN, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, "NEW YORK TIMES": Would that be a breach of what his actual charge is?
TRUMP: I would say yes. Yes, I would say yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Thought it was a red line. Nonetheless, on Capitol Hill today, Democrats are holding a hearing to talk about the President's income taxes.
Kristie, back to you.
LU STOUT: More pressure, more scrutiny for the Trump White House. Joe Johns reporting live. Joe, thank you. And now to the political chaos
consuming the U.S. State of Virginia. The state's top three leaders, all Democrats, are facing separate scandals. If they resign or are forced out
of office, that would shift power to the Republicans. Let's go straight to CNN's Jason Carroll. He is live for us in the Virginia capital. And
Jason, another top state official has admitted to wearing blackface. Like the Governor, is the Attorney General, Mark Herring, refusing calls to step
down?
JASON CARROLL, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: He is at this point. I mean, you've got the Attorney General refusing to step down, the Governor refusing to go
step down, the Lieutenant Governor refusing to step down, and Kristie, with the way that this story has been developing, it's got people here wondering
what is going to happen next?
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Growing turmoil engulfing Virginia's political leadership, with the state's top three officials, all Democrats,
confronting separate controversies. Attorney General Mark Herring admitting to wearing blackface at a college party in 1980 amid the
firestorm over this racist picture on Governor Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RALPH NORTHAM, GOVERNOR, VIRGINIA, DEMOCRAT: I was appalled that they appeared up on my page. But I believed then and now that I am not either
of the people in that photo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL (voice over): Herring writing in a statement, "Some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to, and
because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others, we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup,"
adding, "The shame of that moment has haunted me for decades."
Hours after Herring's revelation, Vanessa Tyson coming forward publicly for the first time, accusing the state's Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax,
of sexual assault. Tyson writing in a statement that she met Fairfax at the 2004 Democratic Convention and went with him to his hotel room, where
she says they began kissing before, "Mr. Fairfax put his hand behind my neck and forcefully pushed my head towards his crotch." Tyson insisting,
"I did not want to engage in oral sex with Mr. Fairfax, and I never gave any form of consent."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN FAIRFAX, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, VIRGINIA, DEMOCRAT: You think it's any coincidence that on the eve of potentially my being elevated that's
when this uncorroborated smear comes out?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL (voice over): Fairfax has fiercely denied the accusations, releasing a new statement Wednesday, reading, "Dr. Tyson should be treated
with respect, but I cannot agree to a description of events that simply is not true."
A source close to Tyson's legal team telling CNN that she told Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott about the incident over a year ago. Aides to Scott
confirming the conversation, but noting, "The Congressman did not learn the full scope of the allegation until yesterday."
Meanwhile, "The Washington Post" editorial board this morning is calling for Governor Northam's resignation, writing that he "can no longer
effectively serve the people of Virginia who elected him."
But Northam is showing no signs of stepping down, hiring a crisis management team and meeting privately with prominent black leaders to
strategize his path forward. The political crisis is sending shockwaves through his state's leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK WARNER, U.S. SENATOR, VIRGINIA, DEMOCRAT: I'm shocked, disappointed. I'm still processing it.
TIM KAINE, U.S. SENATOR, VIRGINIA, DEMOCRAT: If you look for any silver lining, it's that Virginians are saying clearly and loudly that behaviors
are unacceptable.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
CARROLL: And Kristie, I know it's hard to follow along with all of this, but of all three of these top Democrats have to end up stepping down, the
next person in line is actually a Republican. That man's name is Kurt Cox. He is the House Speaker and he has already called for the Governor to step
down -- Kristie.
LU STOUT: Wow. Three scandals involving three top Democrats in one U.S. state. This is a moment of political reckoning there in Virginia. Jason
Carroll reporting live for us. Jason, thank you.
You are watching "News Stream" and still ahead, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea is laying the groundwork for that second summit between
President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.
[08:20:10]
LU STOUT: Plus, we take a look at how China's young and old are coping with the country's shrinking and ageing populations.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: The U.S. special envoy for North Korea is in Pyongyang sorting out critical details for the second Trump-Kim Summit. In the State of the
Union address, President Trump revealed that he will meet with Kim Jong-un later again later this month. Paula Hancocks has more from Seoul.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: A second day of talks by the U.S. special envoy to North Korea, Stephen Biegun in Pyongyang. Now, this shows
that they have a lot to talk about. He is meeting his North Korean counterparts, and one of the things we assume he's talking about is trying
to narrow down the city where the second summit between the U.S. President and the North Korean leader will be.
President Trump has already announced it will be 27th to 28th of February in Vietnam. We have been hearing over recent days from U.S. sources
including those within the Trump administration that they favored the coastal city of Da Nang. Certainly, security-wise, that would be easier
for them.
But the fact that the U.S. President was not able to announce Da Nang shows there is some disagreement potentially North Korea wanting Hanoi, the
capital. Will Kim Jong-un have to go there for a state visit to meet the President before meeting the U.S. President.
So clearly, there are some logistical issues to work out still. We hear from the State Department that Biegun is also talking about the agenda of
this particular meeting and we've heard from the South Korean side, the Presidential spokesman saying that they hope that this summit is more
concrete and has more tangible steps towards denuclearization.
This is something that is being echoed by everyone who has any interest in this particular summit. The first summit in Singapore last year-ended with
a fairly vaguely worded statement promising to work towards denuclearization.
So what experts and long-time North Korean observers and officials around the world are hoping for that there is more detail this time around. What
could the U.S. potentially give up? We've already heard from Mr. Biegun that potentially, President Trump is ready to declare the end of the Korean
War. He's come as close as he ever has to saying that.
Of course, they would like a list of the nuclear and missile facilities that North Korea has in return for that potentially. But really, the devil
is in the detail. It depends on the day and when those two leaders are sitting across the table from each other. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
LU STOUT: Now, as countries in Europe prepare for the rollout of 5G, Huawei is warning it needs five years to overhaul its software and
technology to address security concerns in the U.K. Huawei wrote a letter to British lawmakers trying to allay fears that their equipment could pose
a security risk.
Now it says, quote, "Huawei has never and will never use U.K.-based hardware, software or information gathered in the U.K. or anywhere else
globally to assist other countries in gathering intelligence."
[08:25:06]
LU STOUT: "We would not do this in any country." Unquote. The U.K. is one of several allies the U.S. has been pressuring to not allow Huawei to
build their 5G communications network.
China has an ageing population. Now, the problem is that old people are expected to live longer and many young people can't afford to have more
babies. So how will China deal with the shrinking population? Matt Rivers looks at the struggle over demographics in today's economic environment.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN (voice over): This is brutal trudge for a healthy person. But for 68-year-old Qin Taixiao, stricken with emphysema
and colon cancer, it`s near torture. He keeps warm by burning firewood. It`s cheaper than coal. "What can I say," he says, "Life is all right.
There`s no other way."
That steely stoicism is common in China`s rural villages, where life has only gotten tougher. Young people have been largely swept away by the
relentless current of China`s urban migration. Qin`s children left for work years ago. He and his wife Sun Sherong carry on alone.
"It`s difficult for our children to care for us," she says. "We don`t want to become a burden."
A hundred and fifty miles away in Beijing, it`s a burden that 32-year-old Fan Meng knows well. She and her husband financially support both their
parents, the four grandparents of their five-year-old daughter Xi Shwenru (ph).
"She likes to ski and she enjoys diving," Fan says. "If those are her interests, we have to support her, and that all costs money."
The village couple and their city counterpart are a microcosm of China's aging problem. Simply put, there are a lot more older people in China than
younger ones. And an aging population, along with greater life expectancy can have drastic consequences.
RIVERS (on camera): Less working age people might limit the government`s ability to pay for the benefits needed by its aging population. National
economic priorities will shift more towards health care and pension obligations and it might also hurt consumer spending, with the combined
effect of slowing China`s economic growth potential way down.
RIVERS (voice-over): The obvious solution here is to have more babies. But that`s not happening. There were two million fewer births in 2018, and
most studies agree that China`s population will soon begin to shrink.
The government knows this, and in 2016 changed the notorious one-child policy. Couples are now allowed to have two babies per family and there is
speculation the Communist Party could erase any restrictions as soon as this year.
But for families like Fan Meng`s, that doesn`t matter. "For me," she says, "One baby is enough. One baby is what I can afford in terms of both energy
and money." Not wanting more kids is a nationwide trend. That`s unlikely to change, with higher costs and more opportunities for women as two
reasons why.
Back in the village, Qin Taixiao and his wife survive on about $1,500.00 per year selling corn. At some point though, hauling 50 kilos of wood
twice a day will be too much and his meager income not enough. They`ll need help, just like all of China`s older citizens. Whether there will be
enough young people to support them is one of Chinese society`s great questions. Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LU STOUT: You're watching "News Stream" and still to come, measles is resurging around the world, and companies from the Philippines to
Madagascar are taking a hit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:30:00]
LU STOUT: I am Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines. Venezuelan troops are blocking
a bridge at the country's border with Colombia where deliveries of badly needed humanitarian aid could have been brought in. Opposition Leader Juan
Guaido is urging the military to let the food, medicine and other necessities through. Embattled President Nicolas Maduro says his people
are not beggars.
The European Commission President and the British Prime Minister have issued a joint statement. Jean-Claude Juncker says he has told Theresa May
that the E.U. will not reopen talks on the Brexit agreement, but he said the E.U. could add wording to a political document between the two sides
about their future relationship. Mrs. May is back in Brussels after lawmakers called on her to make changes to the Brexit agreement.
In Brazil, the death toll rises in dam collapse at an iron mine. Civil Defense officials say 150 people are confirmed dead. Nearly 200 people are
still missing. The dam collapsed almost two weeks ago unleashing toxic mud on a city located about 500 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro.
The measles virus is sparking grave worldwide concern with the highly contagious airborne disease making a significant resurgence. In Europe
last year, 72 people died and more than 82,000 fell ill with measles. It was the worst outbreak of the continent in this century so far and the
disease is popping up well beyond there.
The Philippines has declared an outbreak in Manila with 861 suspected cases. Nearly 200 new patients were reported in just the first three weeks
of January. Meanwhile, in the U.S., authorities there have identified 50 cases in the state of Washington. New York State is also struggling with
an outbreak. And in Madagascar, the disease has killed more than 300 people since October. David McKenzie went to the island nation and spoke
to anxious families.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Baby Piro clings to his father. His measles made life-threatening by malnutrition.
They traveled 24 hours just to get to a hospital for treatment.
MCKENZIE (on camera): What were people in the village saying about measles?
"There are a lot of cases now in my village," he says. "It's getting even worse."
MCKENZIE (voice over): It is Madagascar's worst outbreak in decades. More than 50,000 infected, more than 300 killed across this island nation by an
entirely preventable disease. The virus was forgotten by many, including physicians, thanks to vaccines. But for years, immunization rates have
been dangerously low.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Let's bring in Heidi Larson. She is the director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Professor, thank you for joining us here on the program. First, could we talk about this situation in the Philippines? There is an outbreak of
measles in several areas including Manila. We know parents there have been reluctant to immunize their children after complications related to a
separate vaccine, a dengue vaccine, how do you build back vaccine confidence after something like that?
HEIDI LARSON, DIRECTOR, VACCINE CONFIDENCE PROJECT: Well, the Dengvaxia story has been pretty dramatic. We had done a study on our global vaccine
confidence index in 2016 and went back and redid it in the Philippines in 2018 and confidence in vaccines generally was nearly 95% and it dropped to
almost 30, and specific confidence in vaccine safety dropped from about just over 80% to 21%.
So the issue around the potential risk of a dengue vaccine, it had a breakdown in the trust and the trust has now affected acceptance of measles
vaccines and the Ministry of Health has specifically pointed to the importance of rebuilding that trust and it's even extended to some families
refusing deworming vaccines in the schools ...
[08:35:09]
LARSON: ... because it's part of the health system, so I think slowly, slowly they have to work on some of those relationships. This isn't just
an issue of information, but I think of building that trust and showing that they care about the children.
LU STOUT: Trust is important. Building trust in the community and also, in the United States, several areas there from Washington to New York
grappling with outbreaks of measles. This should be a well-funded, well- covered, well-protected country. Are anti-vaxers still active there? Are they to blame here?
LARSON: Well, I'm hesitant to use the term antivaxers because a lot of the people who have these alternative beliefs don't call them - don't like
being called that. But I think what's happening, too, is that in some cases, it's not just lack of confidence in vaccines, but people who have a
stronger alternative belief in how they can take care of their children.
And particularly in the northwest, in the Washington State area, I know, you know, over the years, it's been a growing in northern California, but
in pockets around the U.S., people who believe more in more natural food or not so many vaccines at one time or -- so these things, while they might
seem small, over time as we've seen with measles and the challenge with measles is more than any other vaccine, it needs the highest level of
coverage to prevent outbreaks and to protect immunity.
So when there is low vaccination, measles is going to be the first thing we're going to be seeing, although it probably signals that there's under
vaccination for a number of other vaccines that haven't shown the disease consequences yet.
LU STOUT: Got it. Heidi Larson, thank you so many for joining us on the program and emphasizing the importance of building up trust in doctors and
vaccines and also in the science. Thank you so much, and take care.
Now, you're watching "News Stream" and still ahead right here on the program, Qatar has rapidly developed into a country of the 21st Century,
but on the northwest coast, you'll find secrets of its ancient past. "Iconic Qatar" is next.
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LU STOUT: In the Gulf state of Qatar, you will find the remains of an old pearl fishing village called Zubara. Centuries ago, it was a thriving port
city. Now, its ruins and the lives of its residents are being rediscovered. Here is "Iconic Qatar."
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): Over the last few decades, Qatar's development has been rapid. Its futuristic skyline showcases a city of the
21st Century, but an hour's drive from Doha on its northwest coast, you will come across secrets of its ancient past.
MEHRAN KAMRAVA, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, QATAR: Throughout the 1800s and the early third of the 1900s, really the primary economic activity resolves
around fishing and pearl diving and it wasn't interestingly Doha that was the hub of pearling and fishing, but it was Zubara port.
[08:40:08]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): To the untrained eye, this area might not look like much, but in the 1700s and 1800s, it was a thriving port city
with up to 10,000 residents.
THOMAS LEISTEN, ACTING CHIEF ARCHEOLOGY OFFICER, QATAR MUSEUM: The city that was found was an instant success as it was a free port. The convoys
that came from the Omani Coast from Eastern Africa and clearly also from India did not have to pay tariffs. They could trade there and made maximum
profits and that created an attractive marketplace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): Zubara was the most important trading port in the region until it was abandoned in early the 1900s. Layers of sand
blown in from the desert have protected the remains of its palaces, mosques, streets and courtyards.
LEISTEN: From the beginning, this was a well-planned town with gritted streets, with large open squares, particularly around the four main
mosques. Narrow streets that allow of course the trade to go through, but also provided shade in the summer's heat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): After years of careful and intricate excavations, the lives of its residents are being rebuilt and rediscovered.
LEISTEN: We know the import of tradeable goods from the Far East were very important. We found in the houses, in the residential areas, porcelain
from China, even objects from Japan, Indian pottery, ceramics from Britain and porcelain from Delft from the Netherlands was very fashionable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): Awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013, what stands here today are the only remains of a pearl village in the
world.
REEM AL THANI, DIRECTOR OF EXHIBITIONS, QATAR MUSEUM: The huge mapping that is currently happening and we're going one by one and trying to
actually uncover, put the stories out there, really showing people how as a tribal and nomadic society at that time in point, we did have something
that we would call a base and that is important for us because we are continuously rapidly changing.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LU STOUT: And finally, it is time to up your texting game. The Unicode Consortium which oversees emojis in smart phones will introduce 230 new
emojis in March. Now, 59 of those will be distinctly new ones. The others will feature different gender options and a larger variety of skin tones.
The theme for 2019 is "inclusivity." So we can expect to see more disability emojis, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, even a service dog
and random fun additions will also be in the rollout including a waffle, yes, a yo-yo, an adorable sloth and that much needed yawning emoji and a
skunk, as well.
That is it for "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout, but don't go anywhere, "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.
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