Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Flu Spreading Fast
Aired December 12, 2003 - 07:04 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: That coast to coast spread of the flu is taking a tragic toll. The outbreak is blamed for deaths of at least 20 children here in the U.S., many in the state of Colorado. And the number of states reporting widespread cases has more than doubled in only one week's time.
The speed of the spread of the flu and the shortages of the vaccine to stop it are concerning health officials and parents alike.
Dan Lothian reports this morning for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): America's flu outbreak is now on campus in Wooster, Massachusetts, with fatal consequences. Eighteen-year-old freshman Jeffrey Donahue (ph), seemingly healthy, woke up in his dorm room with a cough, and in a matter of days was dead.
PETER CHIULLI, FRESHMAN: I mean, he looked sick, but I didn't think it was that bad.
LOTHIAN: Across the country, and especially out West, now 24 states with widespread problems. Health officials say the so-called Fujian strain, representing three quarters of all cases, has been linked to the deaths of 13 children.
The CDC says cause for concern, but no reason to panic.
DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: There is no evidence that this particular flu season or this particular Fujian strain of influenza that we're dealing with is any more dangerous than similar strains that we've experienced in the past.
LOTHIAN: In Colorado, people lined up to get the flu shot, like Olivia Ramirez (ph), getting added protection for her newborn baby, but the vaccine is in short supply. That's why the federal government has bought an extra 250,000 does. Along with that, the CDC is dispensing advice.
GERBERDING: There are some very specific steps we can all take this year. One of those is to be sure that we stay home when we're sick, because this will help reduce transmission of any respiratory illness that we might have to others.
LOTHIAN: Back on campus at Wooster State College, students get guidance from the school's Web site. LARRY TONY LOPEZ, STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADER: You kind of get a little bit more nervous, but, I mean, you can get sick just from going to the mall.
LOTHIAN: Donahue's (ph) death has not yet been linked to the Fujian strain, but a new reality here: the notion that just the elderly, young or chronically ill are at risk, now dispelled by the death of an 18-year-old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a great kid, and he made everyone laugh. I mean, a fun-loving kid, and he just didn't deserve it, that's for sure.
LOTHIAN (on camera): According to the CDC, each year 35,000 Americans die of complications from the flu. While most impacted are elderly, very young, or sick, the CDC says it's not unprecedented to see a seemingly healthy teenager die.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 December 12, 2003 - 07:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That coast to coast spread of the flu is taking a tragic toll. The outbreak is blamed for deaths of at least 20 children here in the U.S., many in the state of Colorado. And the number of states reporting widespread cases has more than doubled in only one week's time.
The speed of the spread of the flu and the shortages of the vaccine to stop it are concerning health officials and parents alike.
Dan Lothian reports this morning for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): America's flu outbreak is now on campus in Wooster, Massachusetts, with fatal consequences. Eighteen-year-old freshman Jeffrey Donahue (ph), seemingly healthy, woke up in his dorm room with a cough, and in a matter of days was dead.
PETER CHIULLI, FRESHMAN: I mean, he looked sick, but I didn't think it was that bad.
LOTHIAN: Across the country, and especially out West, now 24 states with widespread problems. Health officials say the so-called Fujian strain, representing three quarters of all cases, has been linked to the deaths of 13 children.
The CDC says cause for concern, but no reason to panic.
DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: There is no evidence that this particular flu season or this particular Fujian strain of influenza that we're dealing with is any more dangerous than similar strains that we've experienced in the past.
LOTHIAN: In Colorado, people lined up to get the flu shot, like Olivia Ramirez (ph), getting added protection for her newborn baby, but the vaccine is in short supply. That's why the federal government has bought an extra 250,000 does. Along with that, the CDC is dispensing advice.
GERBERDING: There are some very specific steps we can all take this year. One of those is to be sure that we stay home when we're sick, because this will help reduce transmission of any respiratory illness that we might have to others.
LOTHIAN: Back on campus at Wooster State College, students get guidance from the school's Web site. LARRY TONY LOPEZ, STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADER: You kind of get a little bit more nervous, but, I mean, you can get sick just from going to the mall.
LOTHIAN: Donahue's (ph) death has not yet been linked to the Fujian strain, but a new reality here: the notion that just the elderly, young or chronically ill are at risk, now dispelled by the death of an 18-year-old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a great kid, and he made everyone laugh. I mean, a fun-loving kid, and he just didn't deserve it, that's for sure.
LOTHIAN (on camera): According to the CDC, each year 35,000 Americans die of complications from the flu. While most impacted are elderly, very young, or sick, the CDC says it's not unprecedented to see a seemingly healthy teenager die.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
