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Airplane Detained Due to Mystery Illness, Baby Treated for SARS
Aired April 01, 2003 - 15:00 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, ANCHOR: We're going to get back to our coverage of the war and to my colleague Wolf Blitzer in Kuwait in just a moment.
But first we want to bring you up to date on developments in this country involving a new mystery illness calls SARS, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
At this hour, an American Airlines flight sitting on the tarmac at San Jose International Airport in California. The flight has been sitting there because the pilot and others on board were made aware that some of the passengers were exhibiting symptoms believed to be that of SARS, the so-called illness.
As you know, this is an ailment that has gotten publicity, been talked about in the last few weeks because several countries in Asia have been affected. Right now at least 62 people have been known to have died from it. There is some new information about what might cause it.
We heard our Elizabeth Cohen reporting a short time ago about a so-called corona virus that CDC officials, Centers for Disease Control, health officials in the United States now believe may be the cause.
But at this point, we have this developing situation on the ground in San Jose, California.
With me here in the studio in Washington, our Patty Davis, who covers the airline industry. Patty, what do you know about the airline's decision and any other decision by authorities there to prevent passengers from getting off the plane?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this flight was coming in, Flight 128 American Airlines from Tokyo to San Jose. And I know that the airline tells me the pilot made the decision, when he heard, when it was reported to him that there were people on board, and we're told now from the FAA in Los Angeles, both crew and passengers who were reporting that they needed medical attention.
FAA says it's believed that these people were showing symptoms of SARS. The Santa Clara County Health Department is telling us that they also, the city made the decision to keep these people on board. They go into a cargo hold with this plane, and the EMT and the local medical, the health professional there, going into the plane to determine the situation inside that airplane.
Now what are the symptoms these people have? Is this something that they need to quarantine this airplane for? Right now, this is a wide body, a 777. We're told it's close to full, according to the FAA in Los Angeles. That means somewhere around 200 passengers on board. And we're told that that decision to quarantine it or not still in the process of being decided. So they're all on board.
WOODRUFF: Patty, right now we have with us on the telephone from the Santa Clara California County Health Department, Joy Alexiou. Do I have your name correct, madam?
Ms. Alexiou, are you there?
JOY ALEXIOU, SANTA CLARA COUNTY HEALTH DEPT: Yes, I am.
WOODRUFF: I'm sorry. Can you clarify what your name is? I want to get that right.
ALEXIOU: Sure, Joy Alexiou.
WOODRUFF: Tell us at this point what your department is dealing with at this plane. Are you the ones responsible for the decision not to have people get off the plane?
ALEXIOU: The -- it's my understanding that the port director makes the decision to not have people go off the plane. As soon as we were notified, one of our assistant health officers went to the airport to do an evaluation of and also to immediately transport the five suspected cases to an area hospital.
WOODRUFF: And what symptoms are they exhibiting? Can you give us any more information about that?
ALEXIOU: I don't have that information at this time. She is on the plane, one of our health officers is on the plane getting that evaluation, taking those evaluations at this moment.
WOODRUFF: As far as you know, are they still on the plane?
ALEXIOU: As far as I know, they are still on the plane, about to be transported to a local hospital.
WOODRUFF: And what about the -- you mentioned five individuals. We have been told, perhaps -- we have been told, according to reports, at least two crew and two passengers. Can you be any more specific than that?
ALEXIOU: It's our understanding two crew, two passengers who were on a transfer from Hong Kong, and we're not sure about the fifth at this point.
WOODRUFF: What about the other? Now we're looking at, I believe, these are live pictures, of people being put on -- into an ambulance. Or maybe this was from a few moments ago. I have to apologize because I'm just looking at this picture at the same time you are.
What about the other passengers on the plane? Are they considered at risk because they've been on a long flight across the Pacific Ocean?
ALEXIOU: Yes, I mean, we don't know if these five folks are truly SARS cases or not at this point.
The other passengers are being briefed about the symptoms of SARS, and to basically watch for those symptoms, take their temperature regularly and report immediately if they develop any symptoms. At this point because they don't have symptoms, they're not contagious and are not at risk currently.
But we want to know about it as soon they develop any symptoms.
WOODRUFF: Just to be clear about that. We're talking with Joy Alexiou, who's the public health -- with the public health department in Santa Clara County, California, where the San Jose Airport is located.
We want to be clear. In other words, you don't consider it -- people are not considered contagious unless they are exhibiting those symptoms?
ALEXIOU: That is our understanding, with information from the CDC at this point. That until they develop symptoms, they are not contagious, but as soon as they were to develop symptoms, we want them to report it to their doctor, as well as to the Public Health Department.
WOODRUFF: And can you recap what the symptoms are?
ALEXIOU: The symptoms are having traveled recently to Asia or been around someone who recently traveled to Asia who is sick. Fever of over 104 and then respiratory illness, which can include pneumonia- like symptoms, a cough, shortness of breath.
WOODRUFF: Now what is -- we saw the plane moving just a moment ago. Do you have, at this point, is there any doubt in your mind that those passengers will be, and crew who remain on the aircraft, once they've taken the five off, that they will be allowed to disembark?
ALEXIOU: They will be -- it is my understanding they will be allowed to disembark. Once they are briefed and instructed of what to do, they will be allowed to go through customs as they normally would.
WOODRUFF: Your health department was prepared for this situation. We know that other planes, aircraft, passenger aircraft coming into the United States from Asia had been on alert for a situation like this one.
ALEXIOU: Yes, we don't have any direct flights from Asia, other than Tokyo, which this plane was from. So we've probably experienced a little less than this than other airports. But we were well prepared. Our health officer had put out health alerts to emergency departments and emergency medical departments and area physicians to watch out for symptoms of this illness.
WOODRUFF: All right. We want to thank you very much, Joy Alexiou, who is with the public health department in Santa Clara County, California. That's where we find San Jose International Airport, where this American Airlines flight has just come -- or came in a short time ago from Tokyo with what is now said to be five passengers exhibiting symptoms of a mystery illness, SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome.
We just heard her saying that the others on board will be permitted off -- to get off the plane, but that they are being briefed on symptoms. As soon as they show any symptoms, they are to go to a local health facility.
Right now we want to tell you about another development, apparently related to this mystery illness, SARS, and that is in Springfield, Massachusetts there's just been a news conference at Baystate Medical Center, a Dr. Donna Fisher, talked to reporters about a woman living in that area who had just adopted a baby from China, just returned to the United States from China. We're told the baby is being treated now.
Here is part of that news conference that just ended moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. DONNA FISHER, BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER: The staff who cared for the child here did wear all the protective equipment, as recommended, including goggles and special fitted face masks. And lastly, I'm very happy to report that this child has done very well and is -- has left the hospital.
One of the other reminders that we wanted to make clear is that with all infectious disease illnesses, especially respiratory illnesses, the first line of defense, which we reiterate over a over again, is good hand hygiene, as a general rule. It's a good practice to wash your hands frequently, if you have a respiratory illness, with soap and water.
At this time, I can give you some further information about what we know about the SARS illness. It appears to be mainly spread by very close contact with someone who is ill.
Most people will have a part of their case definition that they have been in contact or have recently traveled to the areas where this illness is being reported in high numbers, such as China and southeast Asia, specifically Hong Kong, Vietnam, and specifically Hanoi in Vietnam.
Anybody who has those criteria of either being in contact of a traveler or a traveler needs to monitor their health for 10 days following that travel, and people will be given health information cards when they return to this country; that is ongoing. At this point, in keeping the patient's privacy in mind, I can welcome and answer, hopefully, any of your questions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If a 1-year-old child seemingly has the strength to overcome SARS...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: We've been listening to Dr. Donna Fisher with the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, describing some of the circumstances surrounding a baby recently adopted by a woman in the Springfield area, a baby adopted from China, brought into the United States and now is exhibiting the symptoms of this mystery illness called SARS.
And just to quickly also bring you up to date on what's going on in San Jose, California. An American Airlines flight on the way, on its way from Japan, from Tokyo to San Jose.
At some point during the flight, several passengers and crew exhibited symptoms of SARS. They are about to be taken off the plane, we are told, taken to a local health facility. Meantime, other passengers and crew being briefed that if they begin to show any symptoms, that they, too, should find their way quickly to a doctor and a health facility.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
SARS>
Aired April 1, 2003 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, ANCHOR: We're going to get back to our coverage of the war and to my colleague Wolf Blitzer in Kuwait in just a moment.
But first we want to bring you up to date on developments in this country involving a new mystery illness calls SARS, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
At this hour, an American Airlines flight sitting on the tarmac at San Jose International Airport in California. The flight has been sitting there because the pilot and others on board were made aware that some of the passengers were exhibiting symptoms believed to be that of SARS, the so-called illness.
As you know, this is an ailment that has gotten publicity, been talked about in the last few weeks because several countries in Asia have been affected. Right now at least 62 people have been known to have died from it. There is some new information about what might cause it.
We heard our Elizabeth Cohen reporting a short time ago about a so-called corona virus that CDC officials, Centers for Disease Control, health officials in the United States now believe may be the cause.
But at this point, we have this developing situation on the ground in San Jose, California.
With me here in the studio in Washington, our Patty Davis, who covers the airline industry. Patty, what do you know about the airline's decision and any other decision by authorities there to prevent passengers from getting off the plane?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this flight was coming in, Flight 128 American Airlines from Tokyo to San Jose. And I know that the airline tells me the pilot made the decision, when he heard, when it was reported to him that there were people on board, and we're told now from the FAA in Los Angeles, both crew and passengers who were reporting that they needed medical attention.
FAA says it's believed that these people were showing symptoms of SARS. The Santa Clara County Health Department is telling us that they also, the city made the decision to keep these people on board. They go into a cargo hold with this plane, and the EMT and the local medical, the health professional there, going into the plane to determine the situation inside that airplane.
Now what are the symptoms these people have? Is this something that they need to quarantine this airplane for? Right now, this is a wide body, a 777. We're told it's close to full, according to the FAA in Los Angeles. That means somewhere around 200 passengers on board. And we're told that that decision to quarantine it or not still in the process of being decided. So they're all on board.
WOODRUFF: Patty, right now we have with us on the telephone from the Santa Clara California County Health Department, Joy Alexiou. Do I have your name correct, madam?
Ms. Alexiou, are you there?
JOY ALEXIOU, SANTA CLARA COUNTY HEALTH DEPT: Yes, I am.
WOODRUFF: I'm sorry. Can you clarify what your name is? I want to get that right.
ALEXIOU: Sure, Joy Alexiou.
WOODRUFF: Tell us at this point what your department is dealing with at this plane. Are you the ones responsible for the decision not to have people get off the plane?
ALEXIOU: The -- it's my understanding that the port director makes the decision to not have people go off the plane. As soon as we were notified, one of our assistant health officers went to the airport to do an evaluation of and also to immediately transport the five suspected cases to an area hospital.
WOODRUFF: And what symptoms are they exhibiting? Can you give us any more information about that?
ALEXIOU: I don't have that information at this time. She is on the plane, one of our health officers is on the plane getting that evaluation, taking those evaluations at this moment.
WOODRUFF: As far as you know, are they still on the plane?
ALEXIOU: As far as I know, they are still on the plane, about to be transported to a local hospital.
WOODRUFF: And what about the -- you mentioned five individuals. We have been told, perhaps -- we have been told, according to reports, at least two crew and two passengers. Can you be any more specific than that?
ALEXIOU: It's our understanding two crew, two passengers who were on a transfer from Hong Kong, and we're not sure about the fifth at this point.
WOODRUFF: What about the other? Now we're looking at, I believe, these are live pictures, of people being put on -- into an ambulance. Or maybe this was from a few moments ago. I have to apologize because I'm just looking at this picture at the same time you are.
What about the other passengers on the plane? Are they considered at risk because they've been on a long flight across the Pacific Ocean?
ALEXIOU: Yes, I mean, we don't know if these five folks are truly SARS cases or not at this point.
The other passengers are being briefed about the symptoms of SARS, and to basically watch for those symptoms, take their temperature regularly and report immediately if they develop any symptoms. At this point because they don't have symptoms, they're not contagious and are not at risk currently.
But we want to know about it as soon they develop any symptoms.
WOODRUFF: Just to be clear about that. We're talking with Joy Alexiou, who's the public health -- with the public health department in Santa Clara County, California, where the San Jose Airport is located.
We want to be clear. In other words, you don't consider it -- people are not considered contagious unless they are exhibiting those symptoms?
ALEXIOU: That is our understanding, with information from the CDC at this point. That until they develop symptoms, they are not contagious, but as soon as they were to develop symptoms, we want them to report it to their doctor, as well as to the Public Health Department.
WOODRUFF: And can you recap what the symptoms are?
ALEXIOU: The symptoms are having traveled recently to Asia or been around someone who recently traveled to Asia who is sick. Fever of over 104 and then respiratory illness, which can include pneumonia- like symptoms, a cough, shortness of breath.
WOODRUFF: Now what is -- we saw the plane moving just a moment ago. Do you have, at this point, is there any doubt in your mind that those passengers will be, and crew who remain on the aircraft, once they've taken the five off, that they will be allowed to disembark?
ALEXIOU: They will be -- it is my understanding they will be allowed to disembark. Once they are briefed and instructed of what to do, they will be allowed to go through customs as they normally would.
WOODRUFF: Your health department was prepared for this situation. We know that other planes, aircraft, passenger aircraft coming into the United States from Asia had been on alert for a situation like this one.
ALEXIOU: Yes, we don't have any direct flights from Asia, other than Tokyo, which this plane was from. So we've probably experienced a little less than this than other airports. But we were well prepared. Our health officer had put out health alerts to emergency departments and emergency medical departments and area physicians to watch out for symptoms of this illness.
WOODRUFF: All right. We want to thank you very much, Joy Alexiou, who is with the public health department in Santa Clara County, California. That's where we find San Jose International Airport, where this American Airlines flight has just come -- or came in a short time ago from Tokyo with what is now said to be five passengers exhibiting symptoms of a mystery illness, SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome.
We just heard her saying that the others on board will be permitted off -- to get off the plane, but that they are being briefed on symptoms. As soon as they show any symptoms, they are to go to a local health facility.
Right now we want to tell you about another development, apparently related to this mystery illness, SARS, and that is in Springfield, Massachusetts there's just been a news conference at Baystate Medical Center, a Dr. Donna Fisher, talked to reporters about a woman living in that area who had just adopted a baby from China, just returned to the United States from China. We're told the baby is being treated now.
Here is part of that news conference that just ended moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. DONNA FISHER, BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER: The staff who cared for the child here did wear all the protective equipment, as recommended, including goggles and special fitted face masks. And lastly, I'm very happy to report that this child has done very well and is -- has left the hospital.
One of the other reminders that we wanted to make clear is that with all infectious disease illnesses, especially respiratory illnesses, the first line of defense, which we reiterate over a over again, is good hand hygiene, as a general rule. It's a good practice to wash your hands frequently, if you have a respiratory illness, with soap and water.
At this time, I can give you some further information about what we know about the SARS illness. It appears to be mainly spread by very close contact with someone who is ill.
Most people will have a part of their case definition that they have been in contact or have recently traveled to the areas where this illness is being reported in high numbers, such as China and southeast Asia, specifically Hong Kong, Vietnam, and specifically Hanoi in Vietnam.
Anybody who has those criteria of either being in contact of a traveler or a traveler needs to monitor their health for 10 days following that travel, and people will be given health information cards when they return to this country; that is ongoing. At this point, in keeping the patient's privacy in mind, I can welcome and answer, hopefully, any of your questions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If a 1-year-old child seemingly has the strength to overcome SARS...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: We've been listening to Dr. Donna Fisher with the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, describing some of the circumstances surrounding a baby recently adopted by a woman in the Springfield area, a baby adopted from China, brought into the United States and now is exhibiting the symptoms of this mystery illness called SARS.
And just to quickly also bring you up to date on what's going on in San Jose, California. An American Airlines flight on the way, on its way from Japan, from Tokyo to San Jose.
At some point during the flight, several passengers and crew exhibited symptoms of SARS. They are about to be taken off the plane, we are told, taken to a local health facility. Meantime, other passengers and crew being briefed that if they begin to show any symptoms, that they, too, should find their way quickly to a doctor and a health facility.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
SARS>
