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American Morning

Airmen at Dyess May Have SARS

Aired July 11, 2003 - 09:33   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: You mentioned that story out of Texas, Dyess Air Force Base. Want to get you there right now. On the telephone with us is Lieutenant Saje Park, the chief of public affairs there at the base. Chief, can you hear me OK?
LT. SAJE PARK, DEP. CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Actually I'm the deputy chief.

HEMMER: All right, Lieutenant. Well listen, nonetheless, we won't take your title away for you. What happened with these nine people?

PARK: Well, on -- I'm sorry. On July 9 we had some people that reported to the clinic. They had some mild respiratory illnesses. And when it came after questioning that they had passed through Toronto Airport recently, earlier in the month -- we are taking just the necessary precautions as if they did have something related to SARS, in order to ensure that no infections are spread and our people are taken care of. Because we take the health and safety of our people in our community very seriously. And we want to make sure to do anything at all possible to ensure that they are well.

HEMMER: You say July 11, lieutenant. Today is July 11, two days later. This happened 48 hours ago? have they been quarantined since then?

PARK: They have been quarantined as soon as they reported with mild respiratory illnesses.

HEMMER: Another clarification. Where did their flight originate before they came to Texas?

PARK: They were actually at Ontario, Canada taking part in a national air show and they transitioned through Toronto on their way back home.

HEMMER: What were their conditions, Lieutenant, when they arrived in Texas?

PARK: I don't have the exact information. I may have to let the medical group of our base tell you about that.

But it was just -- from what I'm told, it was minimal symptoms of cold-like illnesses. But due to the questioning and everything, it came into evidence about being in Toronto, which I must emphasize Toronto has been taken off any list for SARS and there is no evidence that any SARS-related cases have occurred in Toronto. HEMMER: You said earlier -- it's my understanding you were taking precautions following the orders of the CDC. What are those orders as they stand now?

PARK: The CDC issued guidelines? I don't have -- I'm not the spokesperson for CDC. But as far as I know, they do ask that when anyone shows these types of symptoms and these (UNINTELLIGIBLE) circumstances that they be quarantined immediately.

HEMMER: How much longer will the quarantine last? Do we know right now, Lieutenant?

PARK: At this time we're looking at up to 21 days from the last symptom of SARS-related illnesses. We're looking -- they are constantly being evaluated and contacted every day. They're in stable condition. There is no evidence that they have anything related to SARS at this time.

HEMMER: All right, Lieutenant. Thanks. Saje Park there at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Keep us posted, will you? Appreciate you talking with us so far today.

PARK: Thank you.

HEMMER: Nine now in quarantine in Texas now running on day two, and moving quickly to day three there.

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Aired July 11, 2003 - 09:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: You mentioned that story out of Texas, Dyess Air Force Base. Want to get you there right now. On the telephone with us is Lieutenant Saje Park, the chief of public affairs there at the base. Chief, can you hear me OK?
LT. SAJE PARK, DEP. CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Actually I'm the deputy chief.

HEMMER: All right, Lieutenant. Well listen, nonetheless, we won't take your title away for you. What happened with these nine people?

PARK: Well, on -- I'm sorry. On July 9 we had some people that reported to the clinic. They had some mild respiratory illnesses. And when it came after questioning that they had passed through Toronto Airport recently, earlier in the month -- we are taking just the necessary precautions as if they did have something related to SARS, in order to ensure that no infections are spread and our people are taken care of. Because we take the health and safety of our people in our community very seriously. And we want to make sure to do anything at all possible to ensure that they are well.

HEMMER: You say July 11, lieutenant. Today is July 11, two days later. This happened 48 hours ago? have they been quarantined since then?

PARK: They have been quarantined as soon as they reported with mild respiratory illnesses.

HEMMER: Another clarification. Where did their flight originate before they came to Texas?

PARK: They were actually at Ontario, Canada taking part in a national air show and they transitioned through Toronto on their way back home.

HEMMER: What were their conditions, Lieutenant, when they arrived in Texas?

PARK: I don't have the exact information. I may have to let the medical group of our base tell you about that.

But it was just -- from what I'm told, it was minimal symptoms of cold-like illnesses. But due to the questioning and everything, it came into evidence about being in Toronto, which I must emphasize Toronto has been taken off any list for SARS and there is no evidence that any SARS-related cases have occurred in Toronto. HEMMER: You said earlier -- it's my understanding you were taking precautions following the orders of the CDC. What are those orders as they stand now?

PARK: The CDC issued guidelines? I don't have -- I'm not the spokesperson for CDC. But as far as I know, they do ask that when anyone shows these types of symptoms and these (UNINTELLIGIBLE) circumstances that they be quarantined immediately.

HEMMER: How much longer will the quarantine last? Do we know right now, Lieutenant?

PARK: At this time we're looking at up to 21 days from the last symptom of SARS-related illnesses. We're looking -- they are constantly being evaluated and contacted every day. They're in stable condition. There is no evidence that they have anything related to SARS at this time.

HEMMER: All right, Lieutenant. Thanks. Saje Park there at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Keep us posted, will you? Appreciate you talking with us so far today.

PARK: Thank you.

HEMMER: Nine now in quarantine in Texas now running on day two, and moving quickly to day three there.

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