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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
First U.S. Ebola Diagnosis Identified; Car Bomb Attack in Baghdad; Protesters in Hong Kong Possibly to Occupy Government Buildings
Aired October 02, 2014 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Alarming new concerns about the handling of the first Ebola case in the United States. The hospital that turned the patient away leaving him sick, contagious and part of the general population for days.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The Secret Service director now stepping down, resigning after a series of blunders that could have put the president and his first family in danger. What is next for the embattled agency, ahead.
BERMAN: ISIS advancing toward Baghdad as the United States and its partners escalate the airstrikes. We are live in Baghdad ahead.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is 30 minutes past the hour this Thursday morning.
This morning, we have new information for you about the person -- the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. He is Thomas Eric Duncan. A 42-year-old Liberian citizen. On September 15th in Monrovia, Duncan assisted a pregnant woman who later died of Ebola. Four days later, he flew to Dallas to visit family and friends.
The CDC says that four days or five days after that, he developed symptoms, but was initially turned away from a Dallas hospital. Then on September 28th, Duncan's nephew Josephus Weeks, he became so frustrated that Duncan wasn't getting medical care, he called the CDC. And finally Duncan was admitted to the hospital. His worried family members waiting to hear word of his condition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPHUS WEEKS, NEPHEW OF THOMAS ERIC DUNCAN: It's very stressful. We're here. But we just want -- I mean, we appreciate as much help as we can get because Eric just got here. He contracted the stuff and now he needs to pay back the hospital. We're still here. We will not sleep just like you. We feel the pain. We feel the pain. We just hope and pray that Eric survives the night. And we just -- we got our hopes up for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Remarkable. Concern that he hopes that he survives the night and also concerns about how to pay the bills. Meanwhile, we now know Duncan had contacted at least a dozen people during the period that he had Ebola symptoms.
Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now with more.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, there is no question what happened was very historic. A patient being diagnosed in the United States with Ebola. It's never happened before. In fact a patient has never been diagnosed with Ebola outside of Africa. But it's happened now. And it raises some concerns.
And then also, I will tell you, it was not that unexpected. Patients getting on planes in these West Africa countries, they're not sick, but they're carrying the Ebola virus in their bodies. They're in what's called the incubation period. That can last up to 21 days. And they can travel anywhere in the world during that time.
So it's not surprising it'll happen. And it's likely to happen again in the United States and many other countries around the world. Unfortunately, what happened regarding this first patient and the missteps regarding his diagnosis and early treatment is unfortunate. But hopefully it sends a clear message to hospitals and emergency room departments around the country that it should not happen again.
John and Christine, back to you.
BERMAN: Our thanks to Sanjay there.
The Dallas hospital that initially turned Duncan away is now investigating the missteps that Sanjay was discussing. Officials at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital say Duncan came to the ER with a low-grade fever and abdominal pain. But that his symptoms did not warrant admission at the time. What doctors reviewing the case did not learn was that Duncan had told a nurse he was visiting from West Africa. A U.S. official tells CNN that was clearly, quote, "a screw- up."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MARK LESTER, TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES EXECUTIVE VP: He volunteered that he had traveled from Africa in response to the nurse operating the checklist and asking that question. Regretfully, that information was not fully communicated throughout the full team.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: During those few days between Duncan's first symptoms and then finally his admission to the hospital, everyone he came in contact with may have been exposed to Ebola. Health officials are closely watching 12 to 18 people who had close physical contact with Duncan for symptoms. They're watching them for symptoms. They include five children who attend four different area schools. And that has the Dallas public schools scrambling to reassure nervous parents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has been confirmed that five students may have come in contact with an individual recently diagnosed with the Ebola virus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I am concerned that if my son gets fever or anything like that, I will definitely immediately take him to the emergency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: As for Thomas Eric Duncan, Texas Health Presbyterian says he is in currently serious condition.
Meanwhile, WFAA is reporting the Dallas health officials closely monitoring one other person who had very close contact with Duncan as a second potential Ebola patient.
BERMAN: Such critical days now.
ROMANS: It really is. Really is.
BERMAN: As they follow these people that this man came in contact with to see if they develop any symptoms and I can understand the concern of the schools now.
Thirty-four minutes after the hour. The search for a new person to head the Secret Service is under way this morning. Julia Pierson handed in her resignation to Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson on Wednesday after a series of serious lapses protecting the White House and the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, Director Pierson offered her recommendation -- her resignation today because she believed that it was in the best interest of the agency to which she has dedicated her career. The secretary agreed with that assessment. The president did as well.
Over the last several days, we have seen recent and accumulating reports raising questions about the performance of the agency and the president concluded that new leadership of that agency was required.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The damning phrase there was recent and accumulating reports.
The beginning of the end for Pierson came on September 19th, when a fence jumper -- you can see it right there -- managed to get through the front door of the White House and all the way to the East Room before being tackled. And support for Pierson really just almost disappeared completely after the revelation that an unscreened armed man had been allowed to ride an elevator with the president, which is a violation of all kinds of Secret Service protocols. So now the retired head of the President Obama's protective detail,
Joseph Clancy, has been named acting director of the Secret Service. That is as the search for Pierson's permanent replacement begins.
ROMANS: The alleged White House fence jumper Omar Gonzalez pleading not guilty to charges that he ran into the presidential mansion carrying a deadly weapon, a knife. A federal court judge ordered a mental competency exam for Gonzalez to determine if he is fit to stand trial. After his arrest last month, investigators found 800 rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets in his car.
BERMAN: Coalition airstrikes against ISIS intensified on Wednesday. The U.S. military says the final count for Tuesday made it the busiest day so far with 28 strikes total including two by the United Kingdom. Those airstrikes do seem to be having an effect. The mortuary at the general hospital in Mosul, which is Iraq's second largest city, has received the bodies of 45 ISIS militants in the last 48 hours.
In southeastern Baghdad, a car bomb detonated on a busy commercial street killing at least 14 people, wounding another 51.
Joining us now live from Baghdad, CNN's Ben Wedeman.
Ben, do we know any more about that attack?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, that attack took place on Wednesday evening. And of course, keep in mind that the Eid al-Adha, the holiday after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, is about to start so there are a lot of people out in the streets shopping, getting ready for this in Iraq what will be an eight-day holiday. So this car bomb went off, at least 14 people were killed and, of course, the estimates may rise.
And this comes just one day after a series of car bombs and other attacks occurred in Baghdad and elsewhere. In Baghdad itself on Wednesday, 20 people killed and in total 40 in Baghdad and areas to the south of the capital. So this really underscores the danger to the capital isn't necessarily the fact that just a few miles away from here is ISIS, but rather that ISIS is managing to get car bombs and other explosive devices inside the city -- John.
BERMAN: Those are fighting on the streets there in Baghdad. Also up north in Mosul and Syria. Hundreds of miles worth of territory, Ben. Thanks to you.
ISIS also gaining ground, as we just said, in Syria and moving closer to a crucial Kurdish town. But there could soon be help on the way. We're going to take you there live in about 30 minutes.
ROMANS: Thirty-eight minutes past the hour, time for an EARLY START on your money. And I'm sorry to report it was a rough day for stocks around the globe.
European stocks lower again this morning. Some Asia markets are closed for the holidays, but Japan's Nikkei fell 2.6 percent. Folks, that's a big move for one day. U.S. futures are also pointing lower. Could be another bad day if it
holds. Yesterday the Dow plunged 238 points. I don't use the word plunge very lightly. When it's more than 200 points, you can call it a plunge. That's about 1.4 percent.
The concerns there are about global growth. The ongoing protests in Hong Kong, quite frankly.
BERMAN: Yes.
ROMANS: That's one of the biggest business stories in the world really. If this -- if it turns into something very dangerous with the economy and Chinese leadership. And also this first case of Ebola in the U.S. all rattling nerves.
Look at this. Hotel and airline stocks hit on the worries that the Ebola scare could affect travel. Some of the hardest hit, John, Starwood Hotels and Resort, Southwest and JetBlue and Delta, they all dropped about 3.5 percent. That's a big move for one day.
And it was interesting. It was sort of indiscriminate selling of those travel stocks. Not based on whether they traveled to Africa or whether an international flight.
BERMAN: Right. And Southwest does not go to Monrovia.
ROMANS: Right. It does not. It does not. But there were just big concerns in some of those stocks.
BERMAN: All right. 40 minutes after the hour. We're not talking about Ebola here, but another mystery virus that has infected hundreds of children across the U.S. now linked to deaths of several children. We have new information this morning, ahead.
ROMANS: Plus new accusations of tampering in the Michael Brown investigation. Is there someone on the grand jury breaking the rules? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: More than 500 people in 42 states and Washington, D.C. now sickened by the enterovirus D68. The number of cases tripling in just two weeks. And now the federal health officials are investigating whether that virus contributed to four deaths, including that of 10- year-old Emily Otrando of Cumberland, Rhode Island. She died 11 days ago. State health officials confirming that she did test positive for D68.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MICHAEL FINE, DIRECTOR, R.I. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: She got a little short of breath. Her parents didn't think much about it. Took her to the hospital. And really by the time she got to the hospital, everything fell apart.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: Hospitals across the country are also now reporting cases of paralysis in children who are infected with the enterovirus. They're trying to see if that's connected somehow to these respiratory issues as well.
ROMANS: The prime suspect in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham is expected in court this morning on a reckless driving charge. Since his arrest suspicion has fallen on Jesse Leroy Matthew in several different investigation in the area over the past few years. But his best friend of 25 years standing by Matthew. A man he calls a giant teddy bear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, MATTHEW'S BEST FRIEND: L.J. is not the type to hurt a fly. L.J., he is a helper. I mean, he wants to help people. So for him to hurt someone, that -- that's odd.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Hannah Graham has been missing now since September 13th. Beginning today, authorities will be using an unmanned aerial system, basically a drone, to help search for her. That's a first in the state of Virginia.
BERMAN: Prosecutors are investigating a possible grand jury leak in the case of Darren Wilson, that's the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown. A Twitter post from an account in the name of Susan M. Nichols bragged, quote, "I know someone sitting on the grand jury and there isn't enough at this point to warrant an arrest."
Now the account was quickly deleted when other Twitter posters pointed out the grand jury proceedings are secret. Prosecutors say they are looking into the matter. They're not saying whether it's true or not what was said. They're saying they're looking into the matter.
ROMANS: All right. George Zimmerman is not expected to face federal civil rights charges for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2012. That's according to the "Washington Pos". Law enforcement telling the newspaper there is insufficient evidence to charge Zimmerman, who was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the Martin shooting.
An attorney for Martin's parents says they have not heard a final decision yet from the Justice Department.
BERMAN: New details are emerging about Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps in his DUI arrest. Court documents revealed that Phelps had a blood-alcohol level of .14. That's nearly doubled the legal limit in Maryland. Police say Phelps was driving 84 in a 45- mile-per-hour zone. They say he struggled to keep his balance during several field tests. And when asked to stand on one leg, Phelps told an officer, "That's not happening."
ROMANS: Is he trying to make -- he's trying to make a comeback, right? BERMAN: He is trying to make a comeback.
ROMANS: He retired but he's trying to make a comeback.
BERMAN: You know, and he's been swimming well. I mean, this is his second DUI arrest.
ROMANS: DUI is incredibly, incredibly serious. I mean, on a lot of levels for that guy.
BERMAN: Let's take a look at our weather. Chad Myers has that.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning. An absolutely spectacular day for you up there in New York. Not so in the plains, though. A big area of severe weather all the way from almost Chicago, all the way to Texas. This big orange area here could see hail, wind and maybe even a couple of tornadoes. The East Coast, though, mainly clear and dry.
Look at your high this afternoon, 68. Now I know it's cool this morning, but it warms up nicely this afternoon in D.C., in Philadelphia. Not so much in Boston. The high there of only 60. Look to the west. Chicago is 78. That is where the warm air is and that's why the potential for severe weather is farther out to the west.
Tomorrow, the front runs farther to the east. The Ohio Valley could get some scattered storms. Some could be strong. Likely not as severe as today. And then windy conditions cool. And windy conditions across the upper Midwest. And it's going to be hot in the southwest. L.A., Anaheim, you get into the inland empire, temperatures are going to be very warm. 90 in L.A. and then you get to the inland empire likely above 100 there. 70 in New York city tomorrow and 75 in Atlanta.
Enjoy your day, guys. Have a great one.
BERMAN: Thanks to Chad Myers.
We will enjoy that day.
Some other news now. This morning a father in Texas is anticipating a reunion with his daughter who was found after she vanished 12 years ago. Sabrina Allen was 5 years old when she was allegedly kidnapped by her non-custodial mother. There were several unsuccessful rescue attempts made over the years, but Sabrina's father Greg Allen says he never gave up hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREG ALLEN, SABRINA'S FATHER: This has been a long road. What wound up happening is we got lucky. I'm going to ask her if I can give her a hug. She is in pretty bad shape is my understanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: That's going to be some hug.
Sabrina was found in Mexico after a secret rescue mission. Her mother has been deported to Texas where she faces charges. Sabrina is currently in the care of a clinical psychologist.
ROMANS: And we wish them all the best as they heal and get to know each other again and try to they rebuild their life. Best of luck to them.
Forty-nine minutes past the hour. Tens of thousands of protesters, they are not moving from the streets of Hong Kong this morning. They're giving their government a deadline to answer their democracy demands.
We are there live after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: All right. This morning, we are keeping a very close eye in the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The activists have been giving Hong Kong's chief executive until today to step down. Earlier, they staged a sit-in outside his office gates. They say the next step might involve occupying government buildings if their demands for full democratic rights are not met.
Our Andrew Stevens is in Hong Kong. He's been part of these or watching these demonstrations right in the middle of it all.
And Andrew, any sense this morning where this is heading?
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this moment, it is still heading towards an attempt by the protesters, by the student protesters, in particular, John, to try to physically occupy some of the central government buildings. And they are the big buildings in this direction here. And not too far away, as you can see, from the main protest site here.
The idea that is when the deadline expires, which we think, and this is a little bit of an inexact science, we think it'll be around midnight tonight, that the protesters will then try to move in on some of these buildings. But it's interesting because they say they want to do it peacefully. Peaceful is a word you hear all the time here so they say they can do it peacefully.
It doesn't seem to quite clear the circle given the fact that there will -- it's very likely to be a police presence there which is going to do what they can to stop the protesters from coming in. But certainly there is a -- you get a bit of different feeling about it.
And I just want to introduce you to Harry Ung (ph).
Harry, you're a 14-year-old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STEVENS: But you come down here. How long are you going to stay for? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to stay for here about one or three
minutes more. One hour --
STEVENS: Three hours more. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I don't want to get too late a night. And my family worries a lot.
STEVENS: Does your family worry that things could get a bit dangerous here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes. Yes, because they know about the tear gas and all those pepper spray. And they worry about -- they worry a lot. So they suggest me to leave in an hour or 30 minutes.
STEVENS: And you have a lot of friends down here as well who are trying to leave?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STEVENS: You worry about your safety?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STEVENS: Yes. OK: Harry, thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
STEVENS: So, you see there, John, there's definitely -- there's a sense which wasn't here before this time yesterday that things could start to turn here. That there could be a confrontation, a violent confrontation involving the protesters and the police. But we're several hours away from that still -- John.
BERMAN: Fourteen years old and worried about the danger that might be coming in the next few hours.
Andrew Stevens, for us on the streets of Hong Kong, thanks so much.
ROMANS: And what is so remarkable to me is that in mainland China, this is not the story they are seeing.
BERMAN: Correct.
ROMANS: I mean, a reminder to everyone that all of those people are protesting for democracy. That is something that is not being consumed by the mainland Chinese audience because there is such tight control from the censors. The Chinese government does not want anything but stability and this is not stability.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. Rough day for stocks around the globe. European stocks much lower this morning. Some Asian markets were
closed for the holidays. But Japan's Nikkei fell 2.6 percent. That's not a pretty performance for one day, guys.
U.S. futures also pointing down right now. The Dow yesterday 238 points lower, about 1.4 percent with special music. It's so dramatic. Stocks falling on concerns about global growth, ongoing protests in Hong Kong and that first case of Ebola in the U.S. All of those things conspiring for stocks lower yesterday.
BERMAN: Now bring the music.
ROMANS: There we go.
BERMAN: EARLY START continues right now.
