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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Ebola in the U.S.: New Information; Secret Service Director Resigns; The War on ISIS: New Help?
Aired October 02, 2014 - 05:00 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 information about a man sick with Ebola in Texas. The hospital mistake that left him untreated, contagious and in the general population for days and the many people he may have exposed to Ebola before being put in isolation.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The Secret Service director stepping down after a series of blunders that could have put the first family in danger. Who will now be charged with keeping the president safe?
BERMAN: There could be new help in the war against ISIS. Turkey deciding today on possible new military action. That as ISIS gains ground in Syria. We are live next to the battle field ahead.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Thursday, October 2nd. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
This morning, new information and fears about Ebola as several people, including school children in Dallas, are being watched closely by medical officials.
We have new details about 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. She later died of Ebola. Four days later, he flew to Dallas to visit family. The CDC says four or five days after that, he developed symptoms, but initially turned away from the Dallas hospital.
Then, on September 28th, Duncan's nephew, Josephus Weeks, became so frustrated that Duncan wasn't getting 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 is very stressful. We are here. We just want -- we appreciate as much help as we can get because Eric just got here. He contracted this stuff. And now, he needs to pay back the hospital.
We are still here. We will not sleep just let you feeling the pain. We feel your 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: Worried about the bills. Worried about surviving the night.
Meanwhile, we now know Duncan had contact with at least a dozen people during the people while he had Ebola symptoms.
Our chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta joins us now. He's got more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, there's no question about what happened was very historic. A patient being diagnosed in the United States with Ebola, it has never happened before. In fact, a patient has never been diagnosed of Ebola outside of Africa.
But it's happened now. It raises some concerns and it also, I would tell you, is not that unexpected. Patients getting on planes in the West African countries, they are not sick, but carrying the Ebola virus in their bodies in the incubation period. They're in what's called the incubation period. That can last up to 21 days. They can travel anywhere in the world during that time.
So, it's not surprising that it happened 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.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Our thanks to Sanjay.
So, the Dallas hospital that initially turned Duncan away is now investigating the missteps that Sanjay was talking about there. Officials at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital say Duncan came to the E.R. with a low grade fever and abdominal pain. But the symptoms did not warrant admission.
What doctors previewing the case did not learn was that Duncan told a nurse he was visiting from West Africa. The U.S. official tells CNN that was clearly, quote, "a screw up".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MARK LESTER, TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES: He volunteered he traveled from Africa and in response to the nurse operating the checklist in asking that question. Regretfully, that information was not fully communicated throughout the full team. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: During those few days between with Duncan's first symptoms and his admission to the hospital, every person he came in contact with may have been exposed to Ebola. Health officials are now closely watching 12 to 18 people who had close physical contact with Duncan. They are watching them for symptoms.
Who are those people? 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: I am concerned now if my son gets a fever, I will immediately take him to emergency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: As for Thomas Eric Duncan himself, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital says he is currently in serious condition.
Meanwhile, WFAA is reporting that Dallas health officials closely monitoring another person, one other person who had very close contact with Duncan, as a second potential Ebola patient here.
The U.S. is ramping up production of a promising Ebola drug. According to "The New York Times", federal officials are in talks with a pharmaceutical company in Texas to produce ZMapp in tobacco plants. Two huge charities, the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation, and Welcome Trust are looking into producing the drug with animal cells. But even with new attempts to increase production, ZMapp takes time to produce. And the supply will fall short if the epidemic spreads. It's still unclear how effective ZMapp is.
It helped two American aid workers infected in Liberia. But the use has been too limited to draw any conclusions.
Five minutes past the hour.
Not a good morning for stocks. I'm sorry to say. Asian and European are stocks down right now. Futures are lower as well. Dow plunged almost 240 points yesterday.
BERMAN: Five minutes after the hour.
Some other news: the search is on for a new person to head the Secret Service. Julia Pierson handed her resignation to 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: Director Pierson offered her resignation today because she believed it was in the best interest of the agency to which she 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 new leadership of that agency was required.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: You can pick out the sound bytes there. Recent and accumulating reports, just too much for the White House to handle.
The beginning of the end for Pierson came on September 19th, when you see right here, the fence jumper managed to get through the front door of the White House, all the way to the East Room, before being tackled by an off-duty Secret Service officer.
Support for Pierson eroded even more after the revelation that an unscreened armed man had been allowed to ride in an elevator with the president. That is a violation, a serious violation of Secret Service protocols.
So, the former head of President Obama's protective detail, Joseph Clancy, now works for Comcast, has been named acting director of Secret Service as a search for Pierson's permanent replacement begins.
The alleged White House fence jumper, Omar Gonzalez, pleaded not guilty that he ran into the mansion carrying a deadly weapon, a knife. The federal judge ordered a mental competency exam for the man to see if he is fit to stand trial. After his arrest last month, investigators found 800 rounds of ammunition and a machete and two hatchets in his car.
ROMANS: All right. ISIS fighters advancing into Syria. They're sweeping into the Kurdish village on the border of Turkey as two car bombs go off near a school in Syria's third largest city Homs (ph). A Syrian human rights group says 45 people were killed, 41 children.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack, although both ISIS and the Nusra front have been fighting in the area. Meanwhile, as ISIS continues the attack on the city of Kobani, Turkey's parliament is set to vote in a few hours on the right to use force against ISIS fighters and in Syria.
CNN's Arwa Damon, live for us this morning on the Turkish/Syrian border.
Arwa, what can you tell us about the advances of ISIS and what Turkey is going to try to do about it?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, how ISIS is managing to advance is quite clear, especially as we look at what is happening behind us. It's fairly quiet right now, but ISIS is literally just a few miles in that direction from the hilltop that marks the outskirts of the town of Kobani now under siege for well over two weeks.
This vote that is set to take place in the Turkish parliament later on today, the resolution put forward effectively combining two previous resolutions. One that was put in effect in 2007 that authorized the military to launch incursion and to northern Iraq, going after the PKK, a Turkish separatist group, that the Turks consider to be a terrorist organization.
The other resolution passed in 2012 to authorize cross border military action into Syria, something we have not seen, but the Turkish military had the an authority to go after terror targets in Syria. Both these resolutions now are combined into one, and one that adds additional authority to grant more military action should the government deem that necessary to include the potential for Turkey to join this U.S.-led coalition, but also should, for example, that buffer zone that Turkey has been calling for be established. We could see this country be a staging ground for foreign forces trying to implement that buffer zone, also the potential for Turkish bases to be used to launch airstrikes into neighboring Syria.
But one also has to note that even though Turkey may and it is highly likely to pass this resolution, it does not mean that we're going to be seeing any sort of necessarily immediate action when it comes to try to slow ISIS advance, especially in this critical territory, the town of Kobani, right against the Turkish border.
ROMANS: All right. Arwa Damon, thank you so much for that, Arwa. Just so much going on. So much going on with that front and how large the land mass is that ISIS now controls. Scary.
Meanwhile, ISIS making advances towards Baghdad, but there are some new good news for the U.S. this morning. We're live in Iraq in 30 minutes.
BERMAN: Ten minutes after the hour.
Hong Kong protesters calling for change from their government, promising to move the demonstration from the streets to taking over government buildings. Will they get the democracy they demand or they get a firm and brutal response? We are live in the middle of it all.
ROMANS: Plus, a mystery illness, a mystery virus sickening hundreds of children across the country. It's now linked to the deaths of several kids. What we are learning this morning new about it, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: All right. This morning, we are keeping a close eye on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The activists giving Hong Kong's chief executive until today to step down. Earlier, they say they just sit-in outside his office gates. They say the next step could involve occupying government buildings if their demands for full democratic rights are not met.
Our Andrew Stevens is in Hong Kong right now.
And the big question, Andrew, is, you know, where is this headed?
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That is the big question at this stage. It's headed as the activists and the protest leaders say it's going to be headed, John, which is to what looks like a confrontation in a few hours from now. Just to put you in the picture here, this is the main protest site here. You can see thousands and thousands of people here. Not the same crowd as yesterday, but still a strong crowd.
If you swing to the right, you see down the street, you can see a fence, quite a high gray fence with yellow ribbons on it. That is the fence which is in front of the central government offices which is likely to be the focus of the protests.
We already have seen student leaders actually get inside that fence and stage a sit-in. That followed arrests. One of the 17-year-old student leaders was arrested. He has become one of the faces of the protest.
So, right down this street, people are gathering together. There is an open-mic here. University professors coming on to speak and talk about the democratic rights of individuals and democratic reforms that need to happen here in Hong Kong.
So, at the moment, it's still a standoff at the moment. The demonstrators say they want to occupy the government buildings. Physically occupy them, but do it peacefully.
The question is, of course, there will be police reaction to any sort of attempts to occupy. That is going to make the whole idea of a peaceful occupation very, very remote, John.
BERMAN: If this is, as you say, headed to confrontation in the next few hours, that could be a big, big concern not just there, but obviously the entire international community. We're going to keep our eye on that over the next few hours.
Andrew Stevens -- our thanks to you.
ROMANS: All right. More than 500 people in 48 states and Washington, D.C., now sickened by the Enterovirus D68. The number of cases tripling in just two weeks. And now, federal health officials investigating whether this virus contributed to four deaths, including 10-year-old Emily Otrando of Cumberland, Rhode Island. She died 11 days ago, state health officials confirming she did test positive for D68.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MICHAEL FINE, DIR., RHODE ISLAND DEPT. OF HEALTH: She got short of breath. Her parents didn't think much about it, took her to the hospital. By the time she got to the hospital, everything fell apart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Hospitals across the country reporting cases of paralysis in children who are infected with the Enterovirus.
BERMAN: The prime suspect in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham is expected in court this morning on reckless driving charge. Since his arrest, some suspicion has been placed on Jesse Matthew in several crimes against young women. But his best friend of 25 years is 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. He wants to help people. So, for him to hurt someone, that -- that's odd.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Hannah Graham has been missing since September 13th. Beginning today, authorities will be using an unmanned aerial system, a drone, to help search for her -- this is a first in the state of Virginia.
Let's take a look at the forecast now.
ROMANS: Right.
BERMAN: Indra Petersons joins us for that. Good morning, Indra.
ROMANS: On Friday eve.
INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, thank you, by the way. I actually forgot. You just made me happy, Christine.
All right. Looking across the country, a difference in the West Coast to the East Coast. West coast, Santa Ana winds and fire danger. Look at the temperatures, 20 degrees above normal. The cooling trend is out there, 15 degrees above normal or so once you see that cooling down. That's going to be the concern with that big fire threat in the next several days.
Into the northeast, you can actually see the spin out here. Still a couple of light showers expected way up to the Northeast. But very easy to see where the big picture is today. Once again, we're talking about the Midwest as the system makes its way across. Of course, it is enhanced today.
We are looking at severe weather. And look how expansive today -- 40 million of you will have the threat. So, we're talking from Chicago, even back down to about Austin today, we will have the concern.
Think about the major hubs, Dallas and Chicago looking for delays. You can actually it makes its way across, even as we go towards the weekend, this will be effecting the Northeast, in two ways, not just the rain, but temperatures. Nice roller coaster, very easy to see the dip here.
First, starting off in the Midwest, taking a little bit longer. But by the weekend, look at the temperatures go down in the Northeast as well, and it's not just the daytime highs. How about starting off the morning and weekend, when you talk about temperatures into the 30s. That is what Chicago is going to be seeing already.
So, things have changed very quickly, I would say. But it is Friday eve.
ROMANS: It is Friday eve.
Thank you, Indra. Thanks so much for that.
All right. Nineteen minutes past the hour. Assault allegations against another NFL player. Andy Scholes explains in the "Bleacher Report". That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: More bad news for the NFL. Dallas Cowboys safety C.J. Spillman being investigated in the connection with an alleged sexual assault.
BERMAN: Andy Scholes has more now in the "Bleacher Report".
Good morning, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning, guys.
Yes, the NFL couldn't get two weeks without another off the field problem. The latest one coming from the Dallas area. According to Grapevine police, Cowboy safety C.J. Spillman is under investigation for an alleged sex assault that took place on September 20th at the Gaylord Texan Hotel. The alleged assault came less than 24 hours after Roger Goodell held a news conference to address concerns about the way the league has handled domestic violence cases. And Spillman has not been charged or arrested and is fully cooperating with the investigation. His agent and attorney decline to comment on the allegations.
All right. The Major League Baseball post-season rolling on last night with the Pirates hosting the Giants in the N.L. wild card game.
You got to check this out. This lady right here, apparently, was looking for her seat and somehow she wandered into the Giants dugout. The cop's reaction is priceless. How does that happen?
As for the game, the Giants had no problem with the Pirates. Crawford broke things open with a grand slam in the fourth inning. This was the first grand slam by a shortstop in post season history. It's amazing. Giants won the game, 8-0. They move on to face the Nationals.
Post-season continues on TBS with a pair of game ones. The Tigers at the Orioles, and the Royals will take on the Angels.
New details have been released in Michael Phelps DUI arrest. According to the police report, Phelps registered a 0.14 on a breathalyzer which is nearly double the legal limit. Police also say Phelps eyes were red and blood shot and speech was mush mouth. Phelps will appear in court on November 19th.
All right. Every weekend, NFL fans struggle with who to play and bench on their fantasy football teams. Well, little did we know, NFL players also struggle with these choices. Take Giant sat in Larry Donnell, for example. Last week, he benched himself last weekend in favor of Vernon Davis and he went out and had a career game with three touchdowns. Well, Donnell lost his fancy game by 15 points and he told NorthJersey.com, quote, I would have won if I would have played me.
Guys, he will not make the same mistake this week. He will be starting himself.
(LAUGHTER)
BERMAN: It is like the Groucho Max fantasy league. Like I would have won had I played me, like a weird take on the whole thing.
ROMANS: It's like a subconscious, I don't know --
BERMAN: Self-loathing fantasy honor.
ROMANS: You got a conflict of interest.
SCHOLES: He's catching all this touchdown and he is probably happy and he's disappointed at the same time.
BERMAN: Oh, not another touchdown.
ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Andy.
Twenty-five minutes past the hour. New information about the Ebola patient being treated in Texas. The hospital mistake that left him contagious and in the general population for days, that's next.
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