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Flue Outbreak Continues to Spread; Mexico Claims Flu Cases Leveling Out

Aired May 02, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And automakers slashing dealerships. What does that mean if you want to buy a car? Fredricka Whitfield, and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We're hearing about more cases of the virus you know as Swine Flu. Scientists call it H1N1. The World Health Organization reports 615 people in 15 countries have been infected with it. Scientists say the higher number is because suspected cases are finally being confirmed, mainly in Mexico. Expect the total to rise again today as other countries do the same.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MICHAEL RYAN, WHO: At the present time, I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent, because we're seeing the disease spread to other countries. We have not seen yet that sustained transmission outside one WHO region. At this point, we have to expect that phase six will be reached. We have to hope that it is not reached.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Phase six, of course, is the highest level of an outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors infections in the United States. It shows the virus is now in 21 U.S. states, with 160 cases confirmed. But the governor of Iowa says there's one more, in his state. And he has declared a public health emergency. However, we still have not received confirmation from the CDC as including Iowa in the states that have confirmed cases.

Meantime, the White House is being constantly updated by the Centers For Disease Control. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us from the White House. Elaine, what is the latest?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: As you just noted there, Fredricka, the news is the CDC is saying the number of cases is up. 160 cases as you just outlined, spread over 21 states. Even as authorities in Mexico are sounding a more optimistic tone about the virus in that country, here in the United States, the CDC is being decidedly more cautious about this new flu strain. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't know as much as we'd like to about the way it's going to behave in our communities, and we're learning a little bit more each day about the way it behaved in Mexico. But the picture is still very incomplete.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: For his part, President Obama, in his weekly address, talked about the steps the government has taken so far in response to this issue. He really tried to walk that fine line once again between reality, that this virus could in fact get much worse, but also reassurance, saying that the government is taking precautions in case it does get worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But because we have it within our power to limit the potential damage of this virus, we have a solemn and urgent responsibility to take the necessary steps. I would sooner take action now than hesitate and face graver consequences later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Those steps, again, prepositioning millions of courses of those antiviral drugs, also requesting 1.5 billion dollars for pandemic response and preparedness, and also recommending that schools and day cares with confirmed cases of this new flu strain actually be closed for up to 14 days. The bottom line, the message here is that we may not -- we may yet be seeing the worst to come, Fredricka, but the government, again, trying to reassure people that it is trying to do things ahead of it, just in case.

WHITFIELD: And perhaps, Elaine, just like in Mexico, it may be the case in the U.S. where you have suspected cases, but it takes a little while to confirm it, not necessarily meaning that there are new cases that are now being investigated. Elaine Quijano at the White House, thanks so much. Appreciated.

The country with the most confirmed flu cases is Mexico, with 443. It's also the place with the highest number of deaths, 16. Mexican health officials are banning travel and public gatherings in hopes of curbing the spread of the virus. Our Ted Rowlands is in Mexico City. The health minister held a news conference early this morning, Ted. What came out of it?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the word stabilization was used throughout that news conference this morning, which is great news in terms of where the Mexican health officials think this is going. They believe that while they don't have the upper hand, that the disease -- the virus has spread, has been significant enough in terms of a drop that they can sort of promote this good news.

They are saying their strategy to shut down the cities, especially Mexico City, is starting to work. Today, Mexico City is a virtual ghost town, which is great for the strategy to stop the spread of the virus. However, it is also starting to take its toll on the people living here, especially when you're talking about their bottom line. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS (voice-over): Guillermo Jimenez hasn't worked in seven days. This restaurant where he waits tables is closed because of the flu outbreak. His family, including his wife Maria, daughter Sandra, and grandchildren Diego and Bondra, all rely on Guillermo to survive.

GUILLERMO JIMENEZ, MEXICAN WORKER (through translator): I can hold on for a week or two, but no more.

ROWLANDS: While only a minuscule percent of the nearly 20 million people in Mexico City actually have the flu, everyone is feeling its effects. Businesses are losing money. Children are out of school. And public gatherings had been canceled. On a normal May Day, the roundabouts circling the famous Angel of Independence Statue would be jammed with people and parades. Instead, Mexico City is a ghost town.

The good news for Mexican health officials is the number of new cases is dropping, and, of the sick people they have tested, less than half actually have the virus.

MAYOR MARCELO EBRARD, MEXICO CITY: Statistics are telling us we're headed towards a stabilization phase.

ROWLANDS: Health officials say if people continue to stay home through the long holiday weekend, they could get the upper hand on the virus, allowing people, like Guillermo Jimenez, to get back to work.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have any money and we have mouths to feed. So now I don't know what to do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROWLANDS: And, Fredricka, basically this virtual shutdown is going to continue through the Cinco de Mayo Holiday. That's when Mexican officials are going to decide whether or not they're going to open up more of the country. If they see marked progress, they will allow more shops, restaurants, et cetera to open up. But if they don't, they are going to keep these closures in effect until further notice.

It is really taking the toll -- taking a toll on people living here as you can imagine.

WHITFIELD: Yes, Ted. Just hearing that last woman, it's heart breaking, because you wonder, since this really is say country-wide mandate, coming from government officials, people can't go to work. They can't carry on about their regular business. Did the government also address whether they're going to offer any assistance to help people be able to make ends meet, help them eat when they can't work?

ROWLANDS: Well, you know, that's probably not going to be happen, to be quite honest. But they are acknowledging that it is a huge economic hit that this -- the whole country is taking. Depending on what you do -- if you're a government employee, you will still be paid. If you're working for a private business that's doing well, you will probably be paid.

But if you're in the service industry, this is without notice. You're basically off work. One day you show up, and they say we're closed, and it's now extended into over a week. If this continues, you are going to see a lot of people starting to get frustrated. Recent polls said about 75 percent of Mexicans thought the government was doing a good job by closing things down. I think you will start to see those numbers change the longer this continues.

WHITFIELD: Ted Rowlands, thank you very much from Mexico City.

Well, see more on the Swine Flu's global impact and learn how to protect yourself from the virus. Check out CNNhealth.com. And be sure to tune in at 4:00 Eastern as we answer your questions about travel, what kind of precautions you should be taking, what might your school districts be doing next week. All of this surrounding the Swine Flu H1N1 outbreak. E-mail us Weekends@CNN.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Fredricka Whitfield CNN, as well as Josh Levs CNN. He will be along as part of this hour long discussion.

Perhaps you are one of the millions of Americans trying to lose weight. You will want to know about the FDA's consumer advisory regarding the popular dietary supplement Hydroxy-Cut. The FDA is warning everyone not to take it anymore. The Food and Drug Administration cites multiple reports of liver damage, and one death possibly linked to the supplement. The manufacturer has voluntarily recalled 14 Hydroxy-Cut products.

The U.S. military says a gunman wearing an Iraqi Army uniform has killed two American troops today. The attack in the northern city of Mosul left three other U.S. troops wounded. It's not clear whether the gunman was a member of the Army or an insurgent disguised in that uniform.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, an immigrant beaten to death. Now the jury has rendered its verdict in the case against the two teens accused of killing him in Pennsylvania.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: News across America begins in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where two teens have been acquitted in the death of a Mexican immigrant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES GOODMAN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: It was a long case, and the jury has rendered their verdict, and they took a long time to deliberate it. Deliberated on the case, and we respect their verdict.

GLADYS LIMON, MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: -- has set an extremely dangerous precedent. The jurors here sending the message you can brutally beat a person without regard to their life and get away with it, continue with your life uninterrupted. Not -- in this case, there wasn't even a slap on the wrist. In this case, the message is that a person who may not be popular in society, based on their national origin or characteristic, has less value in our society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Brandon Kikarski (ph) and Derrick Donchak (ph) were convicted of simple assault in the beating death last summer of the Luis Ramirez. Prosecutors allege the teenagers baited Ramirez into a fight.

And John Demjanjuk is one step closer to deportation. A federal appeals court has ruled that he can be taken to Germany to face Nazi war crime charges. But like so many other court rulings, this one may be appealed. The 89-year-old, who retired as an Ohio auto worker, faces 29,000 counts of accessory to murder. Demjanjuk's family said he's too old and too sick to stand trial.

US Supreme Court Justice David Souter is leaving the bench come June. The possibility of replacing a justice was a hot campaign topic. One candidate, Barack Obama, often spoke of.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: This is going to be, I think, one of the most consequential decisions of the next president. It's very likely one of us will be making at least one, probably more than one appointments and Roe vs. Wade probably hangs in the balance. Now, I would not provide a litmus test, but I am somebody who believes Roe vs. Wade was rightly decided.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That was him as a candidate. Well, it was a campaign promise, and now it's a political reality for the president. So how will this all play out? We turn to constitutional scholar Douglas Kmiec. I hope I'm pronouncing that right.

DOUGLAS KMIEC, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: You got it perfect.

WHITFIELD: Good. He's a law professor at Pepperdine University who worked for President Reagan and the first President George Bush, and he also supported Barack Obama if in his bid from the White House. He's joining us now from Los Angeles. Good to see you.

KMIEC: Nice to see you.

WHITFIELD: This is pretty interesting. You find this to be extraordinary timing for the president of the United States. Just past 100 days and now already about to make considerations for a very important post, a post of a lifetime.

KMIEC: It's smart timing and it's thoughtful timing on the part of Justice Souter. It's always best for the institution of the Supreme Court if a vacancy can arrive in a non-election year. You don't want want the vacancy to be part of the election campaign. Justice Souter has announced his retirement in plenty of time so that the Senate can get its confirmation work done during the summer, and so that the new justice will be available on the first Monday in October.

WHITFIELD: Do you think that Justice Souter kind of gave a little bit of a heads-up to this administration by way of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who just a couple weeks ago, actually said, you know what, there's going to be some change here on the bench. And it's lonely being a woman here. Was that a hint?

KMIEC: I think those hints have been around for a while. Again, I think they are thoughtful hints on the part of the justices. It is good to see Justice Ginsburg has recovered from her treatment for pancreatic cancer. It is also good to see that Justice Stevens, who's the oldest member of the court, and who many people thought might be retiring, is having the time of his life and shows no sign of retirement.

Justice Souter, however, was always a bit unhappy with the Washington scene, and had been signaling for some years that he was anxious to get back to his home in New Hampshire. So that in itself gave the president an opportunity to prepare.

WHITFIELD: What's very interesting, too, is candidate Obama revealed a few things about what he would be looking for if he had to fill a vacancy. And then as president, he came out in a very kind of casual way during a White House press conference and said, what he's looking for is diversity. He's also looking for someone with real- life experience and someone who's an independent thinking. So does this mean he might be looking for somebody who is not a seated federal judge or perhaps someone who would go straight from the ranks of a practicing attorney? Or is there any other thing that you read into those statements?

KMIEC: Well, you know, people have be been commenting that the current bench is made up of all former appellate judges and that uniformity of perspective is both great experience in preparation to be a Supreme Court justice, but it's also somewhat narrowing.

I actually think, Fredricka, the quality that President Obama has given most emphasis to and that bears watching is empathy. This notion that people -- that the people who serve on the court ought not to just be intelligent and competent and people who are objective, but also have some sense of what it means to be left out, to be not the most advantaged, to sometimes be at the margins of society, because, after all, law is designed to protect us all, and this protection of civil rights and civil liberties is most important to the president. And he has that uppermost in his mind.

WHITFIELD: Given that, who might some of the candidates be? Who do you suppose would be on the short list?

KMIEC: You're right that Justice Ginsburg has said it is awfully lonely up there. And as a consequence, there is actually a very deep bench of women jurists that would be, I think, attractive for many reasons to the president. WHITFIELD: We're looking into some of them. Diane Wood, I think you're about to say. Jennifer Granholm, Sonia Sotomayor. I'm not sure if you had a monitor in front of you to see the pictures of. Elena Kagan and Leah Ward Sears. Deval Patrick is the Massachusetts governor. He's the one man in this block of six here. Of these five women, what were you about to say about Diane Wood?

KMIEC: Diane Wood is well known to the president. He, himself, is a constitutional law professor and taught with Diane Wood at the University of Chicago. And as a result, he would know her mind quite well. The others are also known to him. Kim Wardlaw (ph), Sonia Sotomayor in particular.

I don't think you can say any one of them is particularly a favorite right at this moment. They all do have very superb reputations as jurists. I think a lot is going to come down to the subtlety of the interview and the things they convey to the president during their conversations.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. Conversations, which something tells me already began, maybe as early as last night. Professor Douglas Kmiec of beautiful Pepperdine University. I love the backdrop. Gorgeous campus. Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it.

KMIEC: It's very good to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

From Walter Chrysler to Lee Iacocca to Bob Nardelli. We'll trace the rocky road of Chrysler.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Chrysler's bankruptcy filing identifies four plant that will close permanently by the end of the year. They include a plant in St. Louis that builds the Dodge Ram pickup. The others are in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Twinsburg, Ohio and Kinosha, Wisconsin. Chrysler said the workers could be transferred to build Fiat cars under its alliance with the Italian automaker.

So to understand where Chrysler might be going, you need to know where it's been. The company has been down this uncertain road before.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Walter Chrysler, he's a locomotive engineer.

PETER VALDES-DEPENA, CNNMONEY.COM: His dream, what he wanted to do was create a car company that would make luxury-like cars at prices most people could afford.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dodge prices start just a few dollars more than the lowest priced cars.

VALDES-DEPENA: He took over Dodge and got the Dodge dealer network as well as the Dodge brand name, and expanded the company that way as well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Chrysler, we put everything we had into this new Dodge car.

WALTER CHRYSLER, FOUNDER OF CHRYSLER: Fred, you're part of this car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're damn right I am!

VALDES-DEPENA: Chrysler has had its ups and downs, you know, over the decades. It's always seemed to be a company that kind of comes and goes and goes on a run for a while and then kind of falls by the wayside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The man who's leading the resurgence of Chrysler Corporation, the chairman of the board, Lee Iacocca!

VALDES-DEPENA: Lee Iacocca was just known as somebody who had the touch for making products people wanted. He was very honest about what Chrysler needed, but he was also a very approachable guy. He was a good-humored individual who was being frank.

LEE IACOCCA, FMR. CHRYSLER CEO: My excuse for coming to you is real simple, I'm running out of money and I am going to have to shut down, if I don't get this backing.

VALDES-DEPENA: In the '70s, Chrysler was in big trouble. They went and got loan guarantees from the government and paid them back ahead of the deadline, because they were able to come up with really good products that Americans actually wanted.

I think you need to both look at the past and obviously recognize what went wrong. We also need to look at the future and look at -- does this company seem to understand its mistakes? Do they seem to know where they're going?

BOB NARDELLI, FMR. CHRYSLER CEO: Chrysler is requesting a seven billion dollar loan to bridge the current financial crisis.

VALDES-DEPENA: To look at Chrysler right now, to look at the future, you really have to look at two companies. You have to look at Chrysler and you have to look at Fiat.

Chrysler really isn't going to make it as a stand-alone company. I don't think they can long-term compete on that basis. Otherwise, they will keep sinking between the waves every time there's an economic challenge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So much on the future of Chrysler and GM. Straight ahead, I will be talking to Jeffrey Pohanka, just 15 minutes from now. His auto group owns several dealerships in the Washington, D.C. area.

And the latest on the flu outbreak. The numbers are changing in the U.S. and actually around the world. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Thirty minutes after the hour. Happening right now, the morning line favorite in today's Kentucky Derby won't be in the race. The 3-year-old colt named "I Want Revenge" was pulled from the lineup after its trainer discovered the horse's left front ankle was tender.

The number of swine flu cases or H1N1 in the U.S. is going up. President Obama advised Americans to be calm but cautious about the H1N1 flu outbreak.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: As our scientists and researchers learn more information about this virus every day, the guidance we offer will likely change. What will not change is the fact that we will be making every recommendation based on the best science possible. We will also continue investing in every resource necessary to treat this virus and prevent a wider outbreak.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Obama also said the White House has launched Facebook, Myspace and Twitter pages to keep the public informed about the epidemic.

The World Health Organization puts the numbers of infections worldwide now at 615 with 17 deaths. Scientist says the rising number is because of a back log of suspected cases. They're finally being confirmed mainly in Mexico. In the United States, doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say 160 people have been infected in 21 states. Iowa's governor says there's at least one more in his state. However, no confirmation from the CDC yet to add Iowa to the list.

Some cities and schools are taking pretty extreme precautions because of this virus. Slippery Rock |University is holding a separate graduation ceremony for these 22 students. They just got back from a school trip to Mexico. And even though they are not sick, they've been told not to be around too many people just in case. Apparently, there's a seven-day incubation period of the H1N1.

Not as drastic but just as notable, take a look at how swine flu fears took some of the pomp from last night's commencement at Northeastern University. Yeah, more like hugs and no handshakes. The grads got the diplomas and smiles from the dean but not that traditional pressing of the palm. Some schools are following suit while others are making hand sanitizer more accessible. A few schools have canceled graduation ceremonies altogether and sent diplomas by mail.

Swine flu worries have cruise lines changing their itineraries as well. The first of many that was headed to Mexico pulled up short and headed to port in San Francisco yesterday. Passengers, not so happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENALDA BUCHARDT, PASSENGER: My sister and I have saved for this for a whole year. Our first cruise together. So this just isn't fun.

NICOLE CLARK, PASSENGER: I'm miserable. When we found out the news on Tuesday that we weren't going to be able to continue our trip, I begged to be let off. If we -- if our choice was to come to San Francisco, I begged to be let off back at the port of Los Angeles so I could just go home.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. The San Francisco dock could get really busy over the next two weeks. Instead of heading south many cruise ships are diverting north, adding ports of call in Washington State and Canada. We will see more on the swine flu's global impact and learn how to protect yourself from the virus. Check out cnnhealth.com and be sure to tune in at 4:00 eastern today as we answer your questions and share your comments on the swine flu outbreak. Is it safe to travel? How do you go about doing so, et cetera?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Republicans have kicked off a campaign to reshape their party's image. They're in northern Virginia, for a series of town hall meetings. Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia says it's an opportunity to reconnect with voters. Former Governors Jeb Bush of Florida, and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, also participated in the event.

In our technophile today, the tools of homeland security. The U.S. military has access to all kinds of high-tech toys, but where do they actually find them? Our Brooke Baldwin explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From major hurricanes to domestic terrorism, the National Guard is called in to protect the U.S. homeland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bad guy isn't just al Qaeda it could be a guy like Timothy McVeigh.

BALDWIN: No matter the enemy or event, be it chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear in nature, the guard is trained to respond but they need high-tech tools to do so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is our newest breathing apparatus.

BALDWIN: That's one of the reasons why they're here, shopping around for the latest devices to best protect themselves and Americans. This vendor is promoting a mobile communication center.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you send this unit in so you can establish intercommunication between firemen and policemen, the guard.

BALDWIN: First responders must be in constant contact but they also need to beware of potential hazards like contaminated air.

UNIDENTIFID MALE: It goes through the hose to the mask.

BALDWIN: That's what this air purifying mask is for. The maker says it filters bad air out and blows clean air in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're able to conduct heavier activities than they normally would have been able to do.

BALDWIN: And there's the iRobot, utilized in war zones and in the states. They are often used to inspect suspicious packages to determine if they're harmless or potentially lethal.

VOICE OF GARY STAIR, IROBOT: You can bring the arm down and search up underneath the vehicle without having to send an operator or soldier down range.

BALDWIN: Using this technology, this commander is confident his missions will be safe and successful.

LT. COL. JEFF ALLEN, NATIONAL GUARD TEST FORCE COMMANDER: If I get a phone call today, I can mobilize my organization and move it to wherever I need to in a short period of time.

BALDWIN (on camera): There are 2,200 of those iRobots in use today all around the world. It's this type of state of the art technology that the guard says enables them to best respond to any kind of attack or natural disaster. Brooke Baldwin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The shortage of Chryslers for sale. Lots are full but no buyers. And now bankruptcy? Dealers struggle to get you back in the showroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Chrysler dealers across the country are trying to figure out what the automakers bankruptcy will actually mean on showroom floors. Geoffrey Pohanka is a third generation dealer with 18 dealerships in the Washington, D.C. area. Good to see you.

GEOFFREY POHANKA, PRESIDENT, POHANKA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Geoffrey, I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and I know the Pohanka dealerships, the commercials, fixtures in the Washington, D.C. area. How worried are you that your 90-year-old family business really is in peril or potentially jeopardized by what's taking place with the U.S. automakers?

POHANKA: Clearly, we're struggling right now because car sales are down nationally around 40 to 45 percent. So every manufacturer is struggling. Our company is 90 years old. It's diversified. We sell many different makes of car, both domestic and import. So we can get through this period. Our company survived the depression and we survived World War II when cars weren't made. We're confident we will get through it because we saved our money and we're well capitalized. But we don't know when the next shoe's going to drop. What's going to happen tomorrow. We have never experienced a bankruptcy situation like this. So there are a lot of unknowns and we're very worried.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned you're selling all kinds of different makes and models. Chevrolets, Saturn, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Mazda. Have I left anything out? I think you've covered it, we're find. Tell me though, most of your lots are filled with vehicles because people are really trepidations about buying a car right now for many reasons, all under the big economic umbrella. How are you surviving?

POHANKA: Well our car sales are not zero. They are down 40 percent but they're not zero. Basically a dealer have different profit centers, service and parts, body shop, used car sales, new car sales. So new cars are only part of our business, it's not all of our business. But quite frankly our fixed costs are very high for both the car dealer and the manufacturers. When you have a sales decline like we have now, it's very serious to us. Dealers are impacted and a lot of dealers are just going out of business.

WHITFIELD: And a lot of dealers are going to be going out of business because they're waiting for that phone call. Something like 2,600 dealers who are going to be getting the phone call. Have you received a phone call from Chrysler, from GM to say, you know what? Of the many dealerships that you have, you're going to have to shut down at least one of them or two?

POHANKA: We haven't gotten a call like that but there will be calls going out like that. Of course a lot of dealers because of reduced cash flow are going to be closing the doors. They were over 900 dealers that closed their doors last year and there are more every day. Quite frankly, when business is down, new car sales are down 40- some percent. You need 40 percent fewer dealers or 40 percent less car manufacturers. It won't stay like this. Business will improve. It's not sustainable at levels this slow.

It will -- the question is, who is going to remain standing when business does improve? That's the real question. We have not gotten any phone calls. We have two Saturn stores and they are trying to sell Saturn. We just don't know what's going to happen? Are we going to close our doors? Hopefully not. Will they sell Saturn and become a new entity? Hopefully, but we don't know for sure.

WHITFIELD: There are a lot of people involved and not just the consumers, not just those who own the dealerships and people who are manufacturing, but a lot of your commission-based sales people, I imagine it's difficult for them to make ends meet for their families. Because if people are not buying the cars, then they are suffering from certain hardships as well.

POHANKA: That's true. I know even people working for the car manufacturers had their pay cut. Everybody's taking a haircut right now for sure. WHITFIELD: Geoffrey Pohanka, thanks so much and nice to meet you. I'm familiar with the name, given that I grew up in the area. It would really seem to be quite heartbreaking for your business, your family business, and a lot of people in the area to see Pohanka dealerships dwindle.

POHANKA: We will be there. We're looking for our 100th anniversary 10 years from now.

WHITFIELD: All right great, congratulations on that.

POHANKA: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, thanks for your time.

Communication is key in any job hunt. But for some Latinos looking for work, the language barrier can be deafening. CNN's Josh Levs found a rather unique job fair trying to bridge the communication gap.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH LEVS (on camera): So we talk all the time about how they are so many people cramming for the jobs that are available. But what you realize when you come to a job fair like this, is that there are companies that are doing the opposite. They are showing up here and they're saying we have jobs. Please apply for them. We have availabilities starting right now. We want to find out what this is like and how some people can take advantage of that. We're going to talk to a couple recruiters. Starting off here with Carlos Urey of Home Depot.

CARLOS UREY, RECRUITER, HOME DEPOT: Yes sir.

LEVS: So talk to me about this. Why is it worth spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars to come to a job fair when you can just post the job online and get lots of resumes.

UREY: Everybody knows the Home Depot brand. But we are interested in reaching out to our community. Letting them understand that we need them. Especially the Latin-American, Spanish-speaking community. We need them to service our customers better.

LEVS: This is interesting. It's a bilingual job fair and you're saying that even though there are lots of resumes out there, lots of people looking for jobs, you need to target specific communities in order to get the people you need. That's a little bit promising for some people who meet that niche.

UREY: Not only Latin-American. Every community out there, this is just one of many. But our customer base is diverse and we need our personnel also to be diverse to be able to help them out better and provide the customer service that they demand.

LEVS: This is so interesting. I know you have seen a lot of people here today, it's been very busy. Hundreds have been showing up. Another company that's here is Zep Inc. and we're going to talk right now to a representative from there. You're Vera Jackson and you're a chemical company. What have you seen today and are you seeing qualified applicants, you also have a sign that says immediate openings, join us right now.

VERA JACKSON, ZEP INC.: Yes. Right now we're actually seeing a few opportunities in reference to candidates that are qualified for our sales positions. Turnout has been great. A lot of people are not familiar with the Zep name brand so we're here to represent in the community to let them know that we are a 70-year-old company here in Atlanta and that we do have opportunities available.

LEVS: It's interesting because we know there are so many people applying for jobs. But when we look at a situation like yours, it is a sign that if you have niche ability like if you're bilingual, certain talent, certain skills, there might be a job out there that's looking for you really hard that has to set up a booth to find you.

JACKSON: Yes, that's true. Today we are finding that candidates are bilingual that are showing up at the table. However, sales seems to intimidate people. We are a chemical manufacturing company. Most of our products are actually on the Home Depot shelves. We are just trying to get our name out there and let them know that we're a company here in Atlanta and we're looking for a great candidate to work for a great company.

LEVS: It is really interesting. In fact, speaking of their products I'm going to show you something they had on their table that they've been giving way. Always a good thing to have maybe especially right now, a little hand sanitizer, as hundreds, even thousands of people, come on through. Josh Levs, CNN, Atlanta.

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WHITFIELD: Josh being very safe there.

An unlikely battleground in the war against terror. A look at where U.S. troops are making an impact on the world and improving your safety without firing a single shot.

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WHITFIELD: U.S. troops don't always get a warm welcome overseas, as they wage an ongoing war against terrorism. But at one stop, they're not only making progress, they're making friends. Our Barbara Starr explains in todays "impact your world" segment.

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UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good job.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In one of the poorest Arab neighborhoods, unexpected rock stars, the U.S. military. Here at the Abadier Primary School, they helped rebuild the rundown school, giving these children who have little, a real opportunity to learn. When the troops first got here --

What did this school look like when you first got here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was very run down. There was mold growing from where the ceilings had been leaking. There were loose naked wires hanging out which was a big hazard to the children. The classrooms in general, there were no chalk boards, there were only one or two desks and most kids had to either stand up or just sit on the floor.

STARR: The children had been drinking water from a rusty tank. It was quickly replaced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Ethiopia.

STARR: All of this part of the U.S. military strategy to fight terrorism without ever firing a shot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very lucky, and we are very pleased.

STARR (on camera): For the U.S. military, their work here at the Abidear School and across the horn of Africa is a long-term investment, hoping these children get a chance at a real education, means there's less chance that extremism can take hold in this region.

(Voice-over): The troops will tell you they love being here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like planting a seed. You start something small and it grows into something greater.

STARR: Already, some of Africa's youngest citizens are big supporters of one man in particular. How many here know who Barack Obama is? But politics gives way to recess, and a chance for soldiers and children to reach out to each other. Barbara Starr, CNN, Ethiopia.

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WHITFIELD: We're going to take you to ground zero in a hunt for a new flu vaccine.

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WHITFIELD: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you hear the name all the time. But what exactly happens there? Right now, it's on the front line of fighting this latest flu outbreak. And CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, got this rare look inside the CDC.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After five days in Mexico, hunting down one of the first cases of the swine flu virus, I'm back in Atlanta. Now, if there's a place where every bit of news about swine flu is converging, it's here, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before they would let me into the main control center, a checkup, here in the medical clinic to make sure I wasn't sick. They tell me, I'm fine.

(On camera): So, now we're ready to take a look at the nerve center of the CDC, something known as emergency operations control. Take a look over here. Hundreds of people have been in here working day and night for over the last week. Take a look at those screens up there. Those screens monitoring cases as they come in, trying to put it all together. Trying to piece it all together, trying to get control on this outbreak.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody you see in here is here because of the outbreak.

GUPTA: What else do we have over here?

TOBY CRAFTON, MANAGER, CDC COMMAND CENTER: Each one of those regions that you see on that map right there has a team of epidemiologists and folks that are working on making sure that they track each one of the cases in that region. So, they are literally down there getting calls from all those states. Talking to the state health officials. Talking to the epidemiologists in each state and tracking the numbers.

GUPTA (voice-over): Tracking cases, looking for clues, sending out investigators. The guidelines on those Ft. Worth school closings, they came from here. But today, the focus seems to be shifting. What if this spirals into a full-fledged global outbreak? And what if we need a vaccine.

(On camera): I want to show you something that very few people get a chance to see. We're in the back hallways here in the CDC in the laboratory area, and look through this window over here. That woman is working on the swine flu virus. While those samples come here, what she is doing underneath the hood, she's obviously protecting herself, is to try to check to see if the swine flu virus is sensitive to antivirals. But I can tell you the early testing shows that it's quite sensitive to tamiflu.

DR. MICHAEL SHAW, ASSOC. LAB DIR., CDC INFLUENZA DIVISION: This particular virus with this particular combination of genes we've never seen before in humans or animals. It was totally new.

GUPTA: Michael Shaw runs the lab. Are we making a vaccine?

SHAW: Yeah. We're all learning right now. We're doing the best we can, as fast as we can. Which is the message I guess we really want to get out, you know, we're working day and night trying to get this done.

GUPTA (voice-over): Here's how it works -- the scientists here at the CDC provide the virus for the vaccine. After that, it's in the hands of the manufacturers. The big drug companies. Has a vaccine been recommended now?

DR. ANNE SCHUCHAT, CDC SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM: No. We're at the stage where we're trying to understand the situation. We're trying to characterize the severity, and the epidemiologic characters.

GUPTA: If history is any guide, over the next few weeks, H1N1 is likely to fizzle down, but come fall and winter, it could come back. Making a vaccine that much more important and keeping the hundreds of people in this room just as busy. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)