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CNN Live Saturday

Cruiseship 'Magic' Docks at Port Canaveral

Aired November 23, 2002 - 17:30   ET

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

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


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The Disney cruise ship Magic docked today at Port Canaveral, Florida carrying its seasick passengers. About 200 people got sick from a mysterious outbreak and now the CDC is investigating. So let's get an update from CNN's National Correspondent Susan Candiotti. Susan, any solution yet to what made these people so sick?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, not really, Carol. We can tell you that just a little while ago we heard the departure horn for this ship, Disney's ship the Magic. That fog horn sounds like "When you Wish Upon a Star" so for these people who were about to leave on another cruise, they have the promise of a memorable vacation, but for some of those who got off this very same ship earlier today, some memories will be not so sweet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Disney Magic returning to port near Orlando with some passengers who had less than a 100 percent magical time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vomiting, diarrhea, and some of the kids got it as well.

CANDIOTTI: For Cory Russell, his wife and three children at Edmonton, Canada, it wasn't the best cruise but Russell says the crew took good care of them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm heading for a rental car. We're going to go to Disney World.

CANDIOTTI: At least 200 passengers and crew of the 3,200 aboard came down with something resembling the flu. Some guests who did not get sick felt sorry for the others.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For a lot of people that we met it was actually miserable for them. They spent most of their time in the cabins themselves. We felt bad for them.

CANDIOTTI: As soon as the ship emptied out, Disney brought in extra help providing this videotape to show the crew mixing chemicals and using them to spray tables, chairs, swab the decks, and scour every cabin. The cruise line is sanitizing its terminals and facilities on a private island that's part of the tour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would not sail if we did not believe it was safe for our passengers and for our crew.

CANDIOTTI: Disney insists it's not anticipating a repeat of what happened to Holland America's Amsterdam. On four straight sailings, more than 500 passengers were attacked by a virus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We may have some bad luck here but we're all going to work hard to make sure that we can do everything possible. There are no guarantees but we'll do everything possible to make this ship as safe and as healthy as it can be.

CANDIOTTI: The Centers for Disease Control, with help from local health officials, is investigating what happened and how it spread.

DR. HEIDAR HESHMATI, DIRECTOR, DREVARO COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.: We will find out exactly, for example, if it was person-to-person, if it was from the food. It takes time but they are working on that.

CANDIOTTI: Disney says only four percent of the incoming passengers decided to cancel or reschedule. Eileen Tobin (ph) of Colorado and a dozen relatives, including her grandparents decided to take their chances.

EILEEN TOBIN, PASSENGER: We actually had a meeting this morning in our hotel room to discuss it and decide on if we were all in or not.

CANDIOTTI: It was unanimous?

TOBIN: It was unanimous.

CANDIOTTI: Nine-year-old Sarah (ph) appeared ready.

SARAH TOBIN: It was her idea.

CANDIOTTI: Her sister does not plan on getting sick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not touch anything and just wash my hands every time I go to the bathroom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: So, in recent weeks two sick ships, two different cruise lines, but for now, Carol, both appear to be a coincident, both under the CDC's microscope, back to you.

LIN: A strange coincidence indeed. Thank you very much, Susan Candiotti.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 23, 2002 - 17:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The Disney cruise ship Magic docked today at Port Canaveral, Florida carrying its seasick passengers. About 200 people got sick from a mysterious outbreak and now the CDC is investigating. So let's get an update from CNN's National Correspondent Susan Candiotti. Susan, any solution yet to what made these people so sick?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, not really, Carol. We can tell you that just a little while ago we heard the departure horn for this ship, Disney's ship the Magic. That fog horn sounds like "When you Wish Upon a Star" so for these people who were about to leave on another cruise, they have the promise of a memorable vacation, but for some of those who got off this very same ship earlier today, some memories will be not so sweet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Disney Magic returning to port near Orlando with some passengers who had less than a 100 percent magical time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vomiting, diarrhea, and some of the kids got it as well.

CANDIOTTI: For Cory Russell, his wife and three children at Edmonton, Canada, it wasn't the best cruise but Russell says the crew took good care of them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm heading for a rental car. We're going to go to Disney World.

CANDIOTTI: At least 200 passengers and crew of the 3,200 aboard came down with something resembling the flu. Some guests who did not get sick felt sorry for the others.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For a lot of people that we met it was actually miserable for them. They spent most of their time in the cabins themselves. We felt bad for them.

CANDIOTTI: As soon as the ship emptied out, Disney brought in extra help providing this videotape to show the crew mixing chemicals and using them to spray tables, chairs, swab the decks, and scour every cabin. The cruise line is sanitizing its terminals and facilities on a private island that's part of the tour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would not sail if we did not believe it was safe for our passengers and for our crew.

CANDIOTTI: Disney insists it's not anticipating a repeat of what happened to Holland America's Amsterdam. On four straight sailings, more than 500 passengers were attacked by a virus.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We may have some bad luck here but we're all going to work hard to make sure that we can do everything possible. There are no guarantees but we'll do everything possible to make this ship as safe and as healthy as it can be.

CANDIOTTI: The Centers for Disease Control, with help from local health officials, is investigating what happened and how it spread.

DR. HEIDAR HESHMATI, DIRECTOR, DREVARO COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.: We will find out exactly, for example, if it was person-to-person, if it was from the food. It takes time but they are working on that.

CANDIOTTI: Disney says only four percent of the incoming passengers decided to cancel or reschedule. Eileen Tobin (ph) of Colorado and a dozen relatives, including her grandparents decided to take their chances.

EILEEN TOBIN, PASSENGER: We actually had a meeting this morning in our hotel room to discuss it and decide on if we were all in or not.

CANDIOTTI: It was unanimous?

TOBIN: It was unanimous.

CANDIOTTI: Nine-year-old Sarah (ph) appeared ready.

SARAH TOBIN: It was her idea.

CANDIOTTI: Her sister does not plan on getting sick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not touch anything and just wash my hands every time I go to the bathroom.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: So, in recent weeks two sick ships, two different cruise lines, but for now, Carol, both appear to be a coincident, both under the CDC's microscope, back to you.

LIN: A strange coincidence indeed. Thank you very much, Susan Candiotti.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com