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Swine Flu Outbreak Update; Severe Weather Strikes Areas of the US
Aired April 26, 2009 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In a rare Sunday news conference, the White House declares it a public health emergency in the U.S.. Test results are in, confirming a rising number of cases. 20 people have tested positive for swine flu across five states. Take a look. One in Ohio, two in Kansas, two in Texas. Seven in California and eight in New York. The numbers here are not on a scale of what's being seen in Mexico where health officials say 81 deaths there are likely linked to a new strain of swine flu. 20 of those cases in Mexico are confirmed swine flu cases.
The U.S. Homeland security secretary says the emergency declaration sounds more severe than it actually is. The declaration means freeing up more federal money to combat the virus here in the U.S. She likened it to preparations for an impending hurricane. President Obama meantime is offering his support to Mexico during this health crisis. Our Elaine Quijano is at the White House. So, Elaine, what are you hearing now?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: White House briefing intended clearly to demonstrate that the Obama administration is responding very quickly to this new flu outbreak and this new flu strain. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was joined at the podium today by top Homeland Security and health officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and as you noted she explained why the government is deciding to move ahead and make this emergency declaration. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The Department of Health and Human Services will declare today a public health emergency in the United States. That sounds more severe than really it is. This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal, state and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation. It allows us to use medication and diagnostic tests that we might not otherwise be able to use.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, the secretary also said that the government has in its stockpile about 50 million doses of flu-fighting drugs, including Tamiflu and is working to move about 12.5 million of those doses into places where states might need them can get to them a little bit more easily. Now, at U.S. borders, she says the government is not restricting travel into or out of the country right now nor that requiring any kind of testing if passengers coming in from Mexico. But Fredricka she also said that could change as the situation continues to unfold.
WHITFIELD: Yes, (inaudible) of the cases in the people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with having had bird flu. Those who recovered recovered without any antivirals. So it will be interesting to see just how we go from here. Elaine Quijano at the White House, appreciate it.
Well, health experts are expecting that this new swine flu virus will spread. We turn now to Dr. Anne Schuchat. She tracks infectious diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here in Atlanta. Good to see you, doctor.
DR. ANNE SCHUCHAT, CDC: Hello.
WHITFIELD: All right. While the Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano is saying it sounds much worse than it is, it certainly is pretty alarming for most Americans to hear that we are talking about a spread of this virus in so many different states, geographically. So what do you suppose the common denominator is here?
SCHUCHAT: You know, I think we are concerned and it's important for people to know that this a serious situation. We have cases in five states right now that are confirmed. And we're taking aggressive actions to make sure that we limit the health impact of this new virus.
WHITFIELD: Is it significant that of the people who have recurred - have recovered from this virus didn't have to use antivirals? What does that mean?
SCHUCHAT: You know, there is so much more to understand about this particular virus. Influenza in general is very unpredictable, and this is a new strain - this swine flu virus that we're seeing. Many people do recover without anti-viral drugs and with home care, with rest and lots of fluids, and that's a good thing. But some people can get severe disease, even just with seasonal flu, of course.
WHITFIELD: If that is the case though then people have been able to recover on their own, why would we declare this a public health emergency?
SCHUCHAT: What we're trying to do is make sure that we're prepared for a situation where things do get worse. And we really don't want to wait for that circumstance, to be ready. So we are leaning forward, make sure that assets are where they will be needed. And taking care to have some of the flexibility we need in case the situation gets worse in case hospitals get overwhelmed. We'll have a lot more flexibility with this declaration.
WHITFIELD: And so, right now we're looking at a geographic which talks about the flu symptoms, very similar to kind of type-A influenza. Chills, coughing, perhaps even a sore throat, even an achy body. What are you concerned about these very similar symptoms to the regular influenza that we're all used to that some people may not get a doctor's care because they may think, you know what? This is just going to pass. SCHUCHAT: Well, it's quite possible that many people will get better with home care, without a doctor's attention. But we think it's important for people who have a history of travel to Mexico, for instance, who are coming down with those symptoms that they seek care. And certainly anyone with severe symptoms who is having difficulty breathing, for instance, certainly ought to seek medical care.
WHITFIELD: But I guess a concern, too, even if you haven't gone to Mexico, perhaps you may be exposed to somebody who has, if, indeed there would be a carrier. So what is the risk for any and everyone out there who may be is not traveling.
SCHUCHAT: You know, it's early days and we're really learning as we go here. We're trying to make sure that people have the information they need and seek care when they can really use their judgment in terms of are they ill enough to see a health care provider.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Anne Schuchat, thanks so much, of the CDC. Appreciate your time.
SCHUCHAT: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Today, in New York, St. Francis Prep School in Queens got some very sobering news that it actually feared. Eight kids tested positive for swine flu. We're talking now eight of the 20 confirmed U.S. cases are coming from this one location. Our Susan Candiotti is outside the school. So, Susan, are there other cases that just might be confirmed?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is the result that was predicted by the New York City health commissioner yesterday. Those eight confirmed cases among high school students here at St. Francis Prep School in Queens. It's a large school. 2,700 in all. And there had been as many as 200 high school students here who are reported feeling ill. Only nine have been tested. And now we have those positive results.
However, New York's mayor, David Bloomberg, Michael Bloomberg had said that he does have good news to report in that all of the symptoms that are being reported are mild and no one has been hospitalized. However, he did say that in some cases, the illness is on the move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: At St. Francis Prep High School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, there have been more than 100 students with illness. Every case of illness we have reviewed and we've spoken with 130 families, has been mild and many of the students are already improving. Some family members of ill children have become ill, suggesting that it's spreading person to person at this time. We don't know if this spread will be sustained. What's heartening is that the people who tested positive have only mild illnesses, unlike in Mexico.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CANDIOTTI: Now the school here in Queens did decide to close for two days, even though they had been directed by health officials to shut down for just one day. But as a precaution, they decided to close for the next two days. So no classes here. This is among a student population of 2,700 that this has occurred.
Also, as a precaution, the school hired an agency to come in and clean the building from inside and out, scrubbing down the walls, the classrooms, the desks, that kind of thing. Even though, again, the health department said this is not something that was necessary and doesn't really help stop the spread of swine flu. If it does exist, it is not airborne. Nevertheless, the principal here did say that parents are understandably worried.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRO. LEONARD CONWAY, ST. FRANCIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL: We've been monitoring all of the voice mails that have been coming to the school switchboard. And I've been returning calls all day yesterday and most of today. And the parents are concerned, rightfully so. There are students that are just developing symptoms today. There are students that had the symptoms on Thursday and they seem to be getting better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: Also, New York's Governor David Paterson has declared a public health emergency in the state. That is primarily to free up resources for any agencies within the state that need extra help. So Fredricka, again, they are urging New Yorkers that only those who have serious respiratory problems, and have very, very high fevers should be the ones that feel the need to go to the hospital. Other than that, they believe that most people should contact their own doctors and simply stay at home. Don't go to work, if you are sick.
WHITFIELD: Right. Don't go to work. Don't go to school and cover your mouth if you're going to cough or sneeze. Very simple things we've been hearing, measures to put into place. Thanks so much. Susan Candiotti, appreciate it.
All right. In the meantime, health workers in Mexico are actually screening people at airports and bus stations for signs of the swine flu. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta just landed in Mexico City. He's joining us now on the phone. So, Dr. Gupta, what have you been through upon deplaning in terms of whether there are measures being put in place to make sure you are not a carrier?
VOICE OF DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there are definitely measures in place here. It was interesting, Fred. On the plane itself, there didn't seem to be a lot of precautions taking place. A lot of people sort of nervously talking about the swine flu. There was paperwork given to us immediately upon arrival in Mexico that said if you have a list of various symptoms, flu-like symptoms, notify your doctor in Mexico immediately.
And that there was some indication that it would be difficult to leave the country if you had those symptoms. As soon as we got out of the sort of customs area, there is just a sea of masks here. All sorts of different masks on adults and children alike. There are what appear to be military officers passing out masks and just a lot of flyers and notices posted about the concern about swine flu. So that's what we're seeing so far.
We're going to make our way to the hospital where some of the first cases of swine flu were treated. We think that there's going to be a lot of clues there. A lot of information there as to how this started. And maybe where it's going.
WHITFIELD: And how are you going to keep yourself safe when you head to the hospitals of those locations that likely have swine flu cases?
GUPTA: We are being very, very cautious. We are wearing n-95 masks, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. We will be wearing those as we get into areas of concern. Simple things like just using lots of hand sanitizer, keeping our hands clean, trying not to touch our hands to our mouth or to our nose. There are medications available to us, should we become sick. We're not going to take those medications prophylactically. But I think a lot of it is just using a lot of common sense.
Now, having said that, Fredricka, you know, there have been some - you know, I've been talking to people. There's been some really scary cases here. A 31-year-old person who was very athletic had died somewhat suddenly after contracting the swine flu. The first case was a man visiting from Pakistan who came here. Was treated for about two weeks for what they thought was a stomach virus.
(inaudible) swine flu and he did not survive that. So it is - we are going to get a better idea of exactly what is going on here. How big a number of people are infected. That's been somewhat hard to pinpoint and find out how they are trying to control it. I think how they control it here may set the tone for how they control it throughout the world.
WHITFIELD: Right. And it really is at the heart of the curiosity here as to why, among the cases in Mexico, why these cases have turned out to be deadly. Whereas we're looking at the cases in the U.S., so far, many people have been able to recover without any anti-virals at all.
GUPTA: And we've been asking that same question. And I don't know that there's an answer. There are a few hypotheses out there. One is that there may be what's called a herd immunity. Meaning as you have more people who receive some sort of vaccination, obviously, the flu shot doesn't protect against swine flu, but it may offer some protection. That could be the reason the - it seems less deadly in the United States. No deaths, just one hospitalization in the United States, as you know, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. We look forward to your reporting there from Mexico City. Appreciate it. Again, another quick look at the symptoms of swine flu. Very similar to what you may have experienced when you've had regular from type-A influenza. All right. Meantime, California, a state that's been hit hard in terms of the number of cases, confirmed cases of swine flu. San Diego has apparently confirmed at least three cases of this. Of the state, seven confirmed to be swine flu and as you can imagine, this has parents there very worried about sending their children to school tomorrow.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is in San Diego. So Thelma, what are school officials doing? What are they conveying to the parents to try and ease fears?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the state superintendent of California schools held a news conference just a short time ago. Now he did tell us that it appears that there are two additional children in southern California who are presenting flu- like symptoms but he did emphasize that at this point there are unconfirmed cases. Tests are under way.
His message to all the parents out there, no need to be terribly alarmed. Right now, he says that parents are the critical link in helping to stop any spread of germs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK O'CONNELL, CALIF. SUPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION: We're concerned with schools. I think Mexico is taking appropriate steps, given the numbers that are coming from Mexico City with closing some of their schools. That's not even being contemplated in California at this time, nor do I expect it will be. Again, we're taking every possible precautionary step to prevent this virus from spreading in our state, in our community.
GUTIERREZ: So you're encouraging parents to send their children to school?
O'CONNELL: Our schools are safe. We want our parents to make sure that they are part of the solution. Make sure that students, while they're at school before they come to school, immediately upon getting home, wash their hands for a duration of at least 20 seconds using soap and water. Learn how to cough and sneeze into your arm and make sure that if you are sick, it's safe to stay home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now Superintendent O'Connell has emphasized what the CDC has said all along. And that is that we are likely to hear about more cases as the week wears on. Simply because surveillance is so good. But he says that at this point, no need to be alarmed. Important to use common sense but he says at this point you can definitely send your kids to school and he's encouraging parents to do so. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: All right. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow. How many parents are feeling comforted by that. Thelma Gutierrez, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
So we know you have a lot of questions about swine flu. So send us your e-mails to weekends@cnn.com or Facebook, Fredricka Whitfield CNN. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen will be here in just minutes to answer some of your questions. And don't forget, ireport.com as well for your photo or video submissions.
Only a few days to go before President Obama's 100th day in office. We'll look at how well he has delivered on some of the promises that he has made going all the way back to the campaign trail.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: On the campaign trail and now in the Oval Office, President Obama has made a lot of promises about what he wants to accomplish. Some include how to deal with poverty, affordable housing and better pay for workers. Is Mr. Obama making good on those promises? Chester Hartman, director of research of the Poverty and Race Research Action Council is joining us. As well the group is in Washington. He's joining us, however, from San Francisco. Good to see you.
OK. I know that your group has applauded the fact that the president signed the Recovery Act within his first four weeks in office. What did that do and how satisfied are you?
CHESTER HARTMAN, DIRECTOR, POVERTY AND RACE RESEARCH ACTION COUNCIL: Well, mixed. We have a number of happy - things we're happy with, particularly in the domestic area.
WHITFIELD: OK.
HARTMAN: We have, for example, we're quite happy with a lot of the cabinet appointments in HUD, labor, EPA, justice, energy, Bureau of Indian Affairs, drug czar.
WHITFIELD: You're happy with appointments, but what about acting on or delivering on some of his campaign promises, particularly about expanding job access? We know that his website underscores these are some of the goals we wanted to tackle. Domestic issues right away. Where are you on grading him on how he's been able to expand job access?
HARTMAN: Mixed again. What we're concerned - obviously, the focus on green jobs is very, very important.
But six million people have lost their jobs so far in this economic turndown. And there's no way that the green jobs are going to replace all of that. I think what we're mainly unhappy with in the jobs area, two things. One is the lack of sufficient attention to the enormous gaps in income and wealth. The income and equality and wealth inequality that exists in the nation.
WHITFIELD: Even though he has said that or his administration has said they plan to invest, here's a full screen now, $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs to help low-income Americans succeed in the workforce. Do you think you should be seeing those results already within this first 100 days? HARTMENT: I think we should have seen faster action on that. And one thing that's very important is unionization. Union workers, it's one of the best anti-poverty programs if you join a union. Your wages go up. You'll get medical benefits, you get retirement benefits and there is now before Congress something called EFCA, the Employee Free Choice Act. And the president - there have been attempts by the business community to oppose it, to have weakening amendments. We would like to see the president much more strongly support EFCA and support unionization as a way of ending poverty in this country.
WHITFIELD: OK. Unionization also kind of addresses or some would say unions are in place to help ensure, secure pay to a lot of folks here. So another promise being made by the president and his administration saying they want better pay for Americans. Increase the benefits for working parents. Raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011, provide tax relief to low and middle income workers.
HARTMAN: All of which we support and greatly and wish he would sort of move a little bit faster on most of those.
WHITFIELD: But you think 2011 is just too far away?
HARTMAN: Yes, I mean, this is - it's a problem that's been around for a long time. There's a great urgency. Every day people are suffering, and we need to move very, very quickly on this.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chester Hartman, director of research at the Poverty and Race Research Action Council. Your group in Washington. But you are joining us today from San Francisco. We appreciate your time.
HARTMAN: Yes. The, you know, we have a report coming out tomorrow
WHITFIELD: OK. And that was indeed the purpose of talking about this today. As a prelude to their report that will be released tomorrow.
Now we have a national report card that we're releasing as well. Joining us on President Obama's 100th day in office for the CNN "National Report Card." It is a primetime event Wednesday night, starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. At 8:00, President Obama holds a news conference. And then at 9:00 Eastern, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and the best political team on television and you, of course, give the final grades for his first 100 days. That's Wednesday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, on CNN and cnn.com/reportcard. We hope you will join us.
All right. Rough weather rolls across the midwest packing wild winds, rain and tornadoes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Nasty, nasty weather hitting the Midwest. At least one tornado is thought to have been spawned by the storm system that left significant damage in the Kansas City area. The storm forced officials to suspend a Nascar race at the Kansas Speedway. Jacqui Jeras is keeping a close eye on this. It's spring which means nasty weather.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Full force kind of tornadoes this time of year.
JERAS: Yes. You know, May just a week away. And that's the peak month where we see more tornadoes than any other time of the year. We're certainly kicking that into high gear. We had eight reports yesterday.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
JERAS: Today, knock on wood. You know, we haven't had any confirmed tornadoes, but things are starting to kick out there. Check this out, Fredricka. I mean, we're talking from Iowa, all the way down into parts of Texas where we have tornado watches in that threat in place. And I want to zoom into two areas here across Oklahoma and on up into Kansas. This is what we call PDS watches, which mean Particularly Dangerous Situations.
This is the kind of situation where we can see large destructive, violent tornadoes that stay on the ground for a very long period of time. Now we do have one warning to tell you about. This is a Doppler radar-indicated tornado right here, right along the i-70 corridor. There you can see Kansas City over on the edge of the map, just to put it in perspective for you. This is Dickinson, Geary and Clay counties. And so that's going to be moving right over the interstate. You need to be seeking shelter immediately if you do live in this area. We've also been monitoring the situation in and around Oklahoma City.
The choppers have been out flying, tracking some storms north of there. And I have these two little outlets already for you by two of our affiliates. Both of the choppers unfortunately had to turn around and go get gas, but we're going to leave those up there for you so that when we do get more video coming in we can bring that along to you. And I want to talk a little bit more about the situation here and why this is going on.
Our upper level pattern is bringing in dry cool air from the west. Warm moist air from the south. And there you can see that pink area right in the middle. That's what we call a high risk. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a high risk of tornados in this area for today. You may be asking yourself, what does it really mean a high risk. Obviously, you know, it makes you think it's going to be a really bad one. Well, we only get a handful of days like this per year.
And here's the definition by the Storm Prediction Center. It means that we're expecting a major severe weather outbreak. 20 or more tornadoes are likely and some of those tornadoes likely EF-2 or stronger, meaning they can cause a lot of damage and stay on the ground. We'll see those wedge tornadoes. You know, it could be half a mile wide. Or it could mean that we have widespread wind damage.
So we'll continue to monitor this situation as temperatures continue to heat up here, Fredricka, and the atmosphere becomes a little bit more volatile. We're also concerned about the flood threat here, too. Because our weather pattern is kind of stagnant here. So these storms are moving over the same area. So that video that we saw yesterday, those same spots could get hit again later today.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. All right. Thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate it.
All right. Growing swine flu concerns. The U.S. declaring a public health emergency. Our senior medical correspondent answers your e- mail and Facebook questions.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A public health emergency has been declared in the U.S. as health officials worldwide actually try to contain a new swine flu virus that's killed people in Mexico and has sickened others across the globe. Confirmed or suspected cases of the swine flu strain have been found in New York, California, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, as well as several countries worldwide. And the list keeps growing.
The headlines in Mexico read terror as health officials confirm the virus has killed at least 81 people and sickened about 1,400. Twenty cases have been found in the U.S. so far, none fatal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. RICHARD BESSER, ACTING CDC DIRECTOR: What we know about this virus is it looks to be the same virus as is causing the situation in Mexico. And given the reports out of Mexico, I would suspect that over time, we're going to see more severe disease in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The outbreak is forcing people in Mexico City to change their behavior. Just for a little more clarity, while there have been 81 deaths related to a virus, a flu-like virus in Mexico, what is being confirmed is that 20 of those deaths in Mexico are actually related to swine flu. Meantime, CNN's Ted Rowlands is in Mexico City.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a vastly different scene than a normal Sunday here in Mexico City outside the Metropolitan Cathedral. There are no masses here. A few people have gathered. But no masses have been scheduled here or at any other place of worship throughout Mexico City today. Yesterday, the same thing, large gatherings have been canceled. People are being urged to stay away from large gatherings. Just to the side here you see members of the Mexican Armed Forces handing out masks to people that are walking by.
People are using these masks, and they are also being told if they feel any sort of symptoms, flu-like symptoms, to seek medical attention immediately. President Felipe Calderon was on television here locally yesterday urging people to heed the advice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRES. FELIPE CALDERON, MEXICO (via Translator): The good news is that this illness can be cured. We have enough medicine to tend to it. It is important to take care of yourself quickly and timely. I repeat, the good news is that we know the specific antiviral medicine that can cure patients. We have it in enough quantities to deal with all the cases that may appear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Normally, on a Sunday morning here in Mexico City, this plaza area outside the cathedral would be completely packed with people. Today, very few people. Some tourists and a few other locals. But for the most part, very few people out and about, concerned about getting the swine flu.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Mexico City.
WHITFIELD: A growing number of suspected cases are now being investigated around the world. Reports are coming in from New Zealand, Israel, France, Spain, England and Canada. Where swine flu has either been confirmed or is suspected. In New Zealand, students and teachers who recently returned from a trip to Mexico may be infected. Tests in Canada confirm four cases of swine flu in the eastern province of Nova Scotia. And in France, health officials monitoring the outbreak report four suspected cases among people who recently traveled to Mexico.
Perhaps you are getting ready for a trip? Well here are some tips from the CDC that might help you avoid the flu. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or you sneeze and throw the tissue away. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based cleaners work the best. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That's exactly how germs spread.
CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to kind of help emphasize what it is that investigators are looking for and what we can do to make sure we protect ourselves. We've got a lot of e-mail questions that have come our way as well.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. But first we are going to talk about the most recent CDC teleconference. I just got off the phone with the CDC, had a press conference. There was one very interesting comment. Ann Schuchet said the situation right now is very different in the U.S. than Mexico. We don't have any deaths here. But the fear is that might not last forever. These are her actual words that she said in this press conference.
She said I do fear that we will have deaths here. And by deaths here she meant in the United States. So I thought that was very interesting. That's the first time I had ever heard a U.S. public health official say that. It was also a little more information about the ages of the people who have been struck by swine flu in the United States. As we've said, there are 20 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. In the five different states, the ages, 7 to 54. Those are the folks who have gotten sick. Ages 7 to 54. Important to remember. Only one of those 20 have even had to go to the hospital. Everybody else recovered at home on their own and they didn't even have to use any antiviral medication.
WHITFIELD: That's what's so perplexing about this. While we're glad no one has had to use the anti viral in this country, it's very confusing the disparity. We're talking about the same type of virus, but the disparity of recovery, of impact.
COHEN: And I think that may be why Dr. Schuchet said what she said about expecting deaths here. We heard Dr. Besser from the CDC say it's the same strain in Mexico as in the United States. Deaths in Mexico, you have to think that there might be deaths in the United States. And it appears the CDC is preparing people for deaths in the future in the United States from swine flu.
WHITFIELD: Great. We've been receiving a whole lot of e-mail questions. Do we have time for that still now? I'm going to take that as a yes. Here's our first e-mail question today, "What will happen for those of us that plan to visit family in Mexico this summer? We know the CDC has advisories. We haven't seen one from the State Department yet."
COHEN: Well the most important thing is they're not saying don't go. That's an important thing for people to remember. What they are saying is take all of the -- take all these precautions we talked about earlier. Wash your hands. You know, take all the regular precautions that you would take if you don't want to get sick. And they are also telling folks if you go to Mexico, when you come back, be very careful for the next seven days. You get a flu-like illness, go to your doctor and tell your doctor on the phone when you are making the appointment, hey, I just came back from Mexico and I have these symptoms.
WHITFIELD: Here's another. "I have been suffering with a severe lung congestion. Accompanied by heavy coughing for the past week. Is it possible that I've contracted swine flu?"
COHEN: When you look at the symptoms of swine flu, lung congestion is not one of them, but high fever is. This person does not have high fever and does has lung congestion. Whenever you are concerned, you should always go to the doctor. Just like those two symptoms it certainly doesn't sound like it.
Let's actually go over what some of the symptoms are of swine flu again. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, as well as chills and fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting. If you have those symptoms, you should check with your doctor, especially, and be sure to tell them, hey I just came back from Mexico or my husband or wife just came back from Mexico, someone I'm close to. If that's the case, let them know.
WHITFIELD: Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen thanks.
We thank you for your questions as well.
President Obama is about to wrap up his first 100 days in office. How is his approval rating holding up? We have some new numbers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: President Obama's approval rating is climbing. A new national CNN poll of polls shows 66 percent of Americans like the way he's handling the presidency. That's three points higher than his job rating just last month. And it's the highest rating a new president has scored three months into office since 1981 when Ronald Reagan got a 67 percent approval score.
President Obama has made a lot of big statements in his first 100 days in office. And the truthometer has been keeping tabs. Our Josh Levs is here to break it all down. Is that different from the obameter?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes it is different from the Obameter. It's also really cool Website. I spoke with the head of Politifact. The first 100 days. How is the president doing?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL ADAIR, POLITIFACT.COM: We have rated about 21 claims by either Obama or others in the administration. I think it's 11 of them have been either true or mostly true. On the other end of the spectrum, though, he has had I think four false ratings on the truth-o-meter. Particularly for some of the claims they made about the economy.
LEVS: I don't think presidents should get gold stars for telling what's true. Let's focus on the falsehoods so we can make sure the viewers get the truth.
ADAIR: You bet. One of the falses was for a claim that your viewers heard a lot. That was that the economic stimulus bill did not have any earmarks in it.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S: The plan that's been put together without earmarks or the usual pork barrel spending --
ADAIR: There were a fair number of things in there at least a handful that were really could be considered earmarks. So we gave that one a false.
LEVS: One was about whether there was some disagreement among economists about what the government should be doing in the recession, right?
ADAIR: Yes. This was one that Obama said to try to get support for his economic stimulus bill. And he characterized it as if economists were unanimous about the need for government to step in and do something.
OBAMA: There's no disagreement that we need action by our government. A recovery plan that will help to jump-start the economy.
ADAIR: That's not true. There are some economists that we talked to who would say let the free market work and let things go. Now it's probably the case that the majority of economists would -- might support government intervention, but the way Obama said it was false.
LEVS: And Bill you certainly found some false hope when Republicans attack this president. You say it's important to point out that overall this administration so far has been right more than it's been wrong.
ADAIR: It has. And another thing that's notable on Politifact. The most ridiculous falsehoods with our lowest rating, pants on fire, and Obama can claim that, indeed he has succeed in getting and earning no pants on fire ratings so far into his presidency.
LEVS: So far --
ADAIR: That's at least a small victory.
LEVS: So no pants on fire there. You can logon to politifact.com. Your chance to weigh in, your thoughts on the president's first 100 days. An e-mail address there facebook Josh Levs CNN.
WHITFIELD: You are a quick study on all of that stuff.
You have always impressed us.
You always have a choice.
LEVS: That's true. I love it.
WHITFIELD: I like the little pants on fire meter.
LEVS: A little siren going. Make things fun.
WHITFIELD: Thanks, Josh. Appreciate it.
We want you to join us on President Obama's 100th day in office for the CNN National Report Card. It's a primetime event Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. At 8:00, President Obama holds a news conference. At 9:00, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, the best political team on television and you, of course, give the final grades for Obama's first 100 days. That's Wednesday night beginning at 7:00 Eastern on CNN and CNN.com/reportcard.
A candid photograph symbolizes the chaos and horror of the Vietnam War. A new documentary explores the photo that changed everything and its toughest critic. The man who actually took the picture.
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WHITFIELD: It was just one photo, but it may have helped bring an end to the Vietnam War. Now, a documentary takes a fresh look at the iconic image and the man behind the camera. Here now is CNN's Brooke Anderson.
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BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Saigon, 1968. One of the most important photographs of the Vietnam War is about to be snapped.
EDDIE ADAMS, AP PHOTOGRAPHER: And we see them pulling this guy out of a building.
ANDERSON: AP photographer Eddie Adams follows as a Vietcong suspect is led into the street.
ADAMS: I was about five feet away from the prisoner.
ANDERSON: South Vietnamese police chief pulls out a weapon. Adams is armed with a camera.
ADAMS: I took one frame.
ANDERSON: In a split second, Adams captured an image that would come to define the conflict.
SUSAN MORGAN COOPER, DIRECTOR, "AN UNLIKELY WEAPON:" And I think people were so shocked and horrified by the stark brutality of it, the point-blank killing.
ANDERSON: Susan Morgan Cooper directed "An Unlikely Weapon" a new documentary about Adams and his famous photo.
COOPER: It became the iconic picture of pure violence. It was credited with actually helping end the Vietnam War.
HAL BUELL, FORMER AP PHOTO EDITOR: What it did is very important. It coalesced the mind-set of many people who were on the fence, anti-war, pro-war.
ANDERSON: The photo earns a Pulitzer Prize for Adams who died in 2004. To the end of his days, he remained surprisingly perhaps the photo's toughest critic.
ADAMS: I don't think it's anything to brag about.
ANDERSON: Adams' greatest qualm with the picture was its unintended consequence. The demonization of the General Luon (ph) the man who fired the fatal bullet.
BUELL: He felt that is was the life of Luon (ph) who did the shooting, the police chief.
ANDERSON: Luon was a staunch American ally. The man he shot was allegedly responsible for killing South Vietnamese and Americans.
COOPER: When you look at it you immediately feel sorry for the victim. But the victim is the bad man.
ANDERSON: The photo remains a cultural touchstone often referenced in mass media. It had another influence on military policy. From Adams and colleagues like Nick Oot (ph) who took the image of the napalm's girl. The Pentagon learned the power of the picture to affect public opinion. Ever since, it has restricted photographers' access to the battlefield.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): No war was ever photographed like Vietnam. And no war again will ever be photographed like Vietnam. The access was unlimited.
ANDERSON: Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: An unlikely weapon. The Eddie Adams story had a brief theatrical run in New York this weekend. It opens in Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles come June. And in the fall it will screen in Austin, Dallas and Houston. The film is playing tonight at the Newport Beach Film Festival in Southern California.
And the exhibit of Eddie Adams' photos from Vietnam is on display through the end of the month at the Umbrage Gallery in Brooklyn.
All right. Midwest storms, tornado watches in Kansas and Oklahoma. We are on top of it in the CNN Severe Weather Center.
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WHITFIELD: The search widens for a University of Georgia professor. He's suspected of fatally shooting his estranged wife and two men. It happened yesterday in a community theater in Athens, Georgia. Fifty seven year George Deacon (ph) was last seen at his next door neighbor's house. He dropped off his young children there right after the shooting, according to police. Police believe the boy and girl were left waiting in their father's jeep when the shooting took place outside the theater.
Police in Virginia have arrested a suspect in an early morning shooting at Hampton University. Officials say a former student shot the night manager and another man in a dorm before turning the gun on himself. All three were hospitalized. The police say they have no motive for this shooting.
The Pakistani military today launched a new operation against Taliban militants. In an area covered by a government-backed peace deal. Fighting is taking place in the lower Deir region which borders the Swat Valley. At least 30 militants have been killed, including a commander and one soldier. Today's action comes after Taliban militants moved into another district only 60 miles from the capital of Islamabad. They withdrew Friday amid reports of possible military action.
And U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Beirut today says the U.S. will never sell out Lebanon. Her visit comes ahead of June elections that could oust the U.S.-backed government and put the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in power. Clinton says the Lebanese people must be able to choose their own representatives in open and fair elections without foreign interference.
We're watching another potential round of severe weather in the Midwest and the southern Plains. Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN Severe Weather Center.
Jacqui. JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka. The Plains just getting pounded at this hour. We've got a large area of real estate we're talking about here, too. Tornado watches are lined up from Iowa all the way down towards Texas. And the area that we're most concerned about at this hour, right here into the nation's heartland. Across parts of Kansas on down towards Oklahoma. These two watches are what we call PDS watches or particularly dangerous situations where you have the highest threat of seeing those large violent damaging tornados that can stay on the ground for a very long period time. We do have a lot of lightning.
We look at all these lightning strikes. We're going to query that for you. And show you just how many we have had in the last hour; look at that more than 7500 strikes. We have more threats out there than just tornadoes at this hour. We have one warning that we're looking at. This is just east of Wichita. Doppler radar indicating a tornado and the rotation with this storm and this is in Butler County. The tornado warning for Sedgwick County just been dropped as the storm is just moving to the northeast of you now. It's moving right along the I-35 corridor as well.
Why is all this stuff taking place? Why is this happening? Let's show you the weather pattern. This is really key here. This is the jet stream or upper level wind pattern. It's staying put here across the nation's midsection. We're getting these little disturbances that move along the line. The spot that got hit yesterday and today will also be seeing the threat again tomorrow.
Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Good warning. Thanks so much, Jacqui.
Stay with CNN for continuing coverage of the swine flu outbreak at 6:00 Eastern. What Mexico is doing in hopes of stemming the tide across the border. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
