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Ebola Questions Answered; Top Ten CNN Heroes are Revealed

Aired October 02, 2014 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we have breaking news now on the Ebola case in Texas. We have now learned up to as many as 80 people may have been impacted by that Ebola case in Texas. The patient apparently had contact with between 12 and 18 people, and they had contact with some 60 others. So there's so much to consider with Ebola, how it's spread, how it's treated, preventable measures. We have all sorts of questions for you. You've been great about sending them into us via Twitter. So I'm going to have a panel of experts here. I'm joined by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, CNN's senior medical correspondent, and retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore, an expert on disaster preparedness. Of course he helped organize the military response to Hurricane Katrina.

Thank you. We've got your work set out for you the three of you. Questions have been coming in. I think, general, I'll start with you. Here's a question from Twitter. How prepared are we if Ebola spreads across the U.S., specifically to smaller cities?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL L. HONORE, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, I think we agree (ph) that, Michaela (ph), in handling and jumping on a grenade like we did, sending the capacity to go pick a citizen up in Africa, bring them back to take care of them. I think where we failed is at the routine. We still have a 19th century reporting system in the 21st century. That nurse, when she interviewed that patient in Texas, when she entered that into the computer, the fact that he had traveled, that should have gone through the chain of command.

PEREIRA: Right.

HONORE: It's not happening because public health is underfunded and underreported.

PEREIRA: All right, next question, and we'll put this one to Elizabeth. We've been talked about Ebola presents initially like flu- like symptoms. This viewer wants to know what will happen with this upcoming flu season that we're heading into and how we'll be able to differentiate.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Michaela, it will be differentiated by your travel history. If you have flu-like symptoms and you just, you know, got back from Liberia, boy, oh, boy, will they be careful with you or they should be careful with you. If your spouse just got off a plane from Liberia they should be careful with you. If you don't know anyone who was in West Africa and you have flu-like symptoms, you probably have the flu.

PEREIRA: Excellent. OK, Dr. Gupta, here's a great question for you. I've wondered about this myself. This next viewer on Twitter wanted to ask about the resilience of the virus outside of the body and on surfaces. We heard a lot being made about the ambulance. People want to know about subway rails. Some of the rails in medical facilities. Does it last? Does it exist? Can it thrive outside the body?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It can live outside the body. A lot of viruses cannot live outside the body. This one can for a few days perhaps. There's different studies on this. The question I think they're really trying to ask my guess is, how likely am I then subsequently to get infected if I touch one of these subway rails.

PEREIRA: Yes.

GUPTA: And what I would say is, theoretically possible, but very, very remote. The virus, while it can live outside the body, it may change a bit. It may not be able to infect as well. Remember, we keep staying, you keep hearing, you need to have direct body contact -- bodily fluid contact, I should say, with someone to get infected. This is not direct bodily fluid contact. It is - it's the virus that sits on a rail. You could you touch it. Theoretically you could get infected, but I think that that's - I wouldn't focus a lot of attention on that.

PEREIRA: Right, and fair enough, but there are some -- still some questions remaining. But that ping-pongs us back to the bodily fluids, which I'll put this question back to you, Elizabeth. A lot of people obviously concerned about flying. You've recently done that. Flying on an airplane, people are concerned about the proximity to other passengers on board. This person, and excuse the -- we're going there this morning, if my mouth is open and a person showing Ebola symptoms sneezes nearby or on an airplane, is that a problem?

COHEN: You know, I'm going to go back to what my friend Sanjay just said, which is that, you know, there are things that are theoretically possible, but that you - that are not probable. First of all, you are not contagious until you are ill and it's -- with Ebola and a sneeze is not really being ill. If someone is feverish, then that's an issue. But if it's just a sneeze, I think that's something different. I think the possibility of getting Ebola that way is very, very remote and, as Sanjay said, not something that we ought to focus too much attention on.

PEREIRA: No, and that's important. You have to put the things in the category of, we're not going to worry about this now. We are going to worry about this now and the things that are most important.

Sanjay, talking about the blood and, general, I've got a great question for you coming up in a second, but, Sanjay, let's talk about the blood test. We understand that Ebola is detected through a blood test. We have an RN that sent us a Twitter - a tweet, rather. She wants to know how the blood drawn from possible patients is handled in the lab. I'm sensing that she's getting this because we've had instances where the CDC came under fire for the handling of some of their test samples, for example.

GUPTA: That's a fair point. I mean there's been some lapses with regard to how some things have been handled at the CDC recently and, you know, that's fair to bring out. The way this is handled, though, is like -- we asked this question yesterday because, remember, where Elizabeth is in Dallas, blood was taken there and then subsequently sent here to the CDC behind me for a confirmatory test. The blood is drawn in the usual way. You know, everyone takes safeguards when they're drawing blood so as to not get any of that bodily fluid, blood in this case, on them. It is then put into a specific container for this test. It's known as a PCR test. You don't need to remember that name, but that's what they're going to be doing to it. And ultimately it was actually commercial couriered over here to the CDC. So it's hand delivered, but it's a commercial courier system and it comes over here and is examined.

PEREIRA: Yes. Yes.

GUPTA: It is - you know, again, it's because it is such a potentially virulent substance, it is handled with a great deal of care. But I can tell you, Michaela, it's happening already. Some of this just happened a couple of days ago when that blood from Dallas arrived here in Atlanta.

PEREIRA: General, I want to talk to you about travel. I think this is likely the question we have received the most on Twitter. People are wondering why, with the deadliest virus in the world out there, why aren't flights being stopped to the affected area or to or from the affected country with the exception of medical and military flights, obviously. I understand that there is a lot that goes into this, but help us understand the process.

HONORE: Having worked at the Pentagon and worked a couple of these incidents, it all has to do with economic activity and the freedom of people to travel and not overexcite the public.

PEREIRA: Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

HONORE: I think we have a tendency to pay more attention and we're better equipped in our immigration services where people go back and forth. The deal with counterterrorism, as opposed to counterbioterrorism or as opposed to a pandemic flowing (ph), you will be very reluctant to see American medical people stationed at our immigration services doing their job on checking on medical conditions.

On the other hand, if you go to a place like Cuba, there are medical people integrated with the immigration people checking people out. We've got a 19th century reporting system in the 21st century, and the public law doesn't even require our doctors to take the flu shot. We've got to have a cultural change in our public health. Everybody know the sheriff, but how many people know who the public health officer is in their count?

PEREIRA: I appreciate the general for all of your points there. That's a very good point. There are some areas of weakness that we certainly need to tighten up. You've highlighted that.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Elizabeth Cohen, of course, General Honore, thank you so much. A great conversation with us. And also our viewers, a big thank you for participating in this. We know you have to have concerns. We want to make sure we address them as best we can.

All right, one of my favorite times of year, CNN recognizing people around the planet for their remarkable efforts to make our world a better place. We call them CNN Heroes. Anderson Cooper is up very early today. He's going to join us this morning, revealing this year's top 10.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for the five things you need to know for your NEW DAY.

Number one, questions are swirling over why a Texas hospital released a man who presented with Ebola symptoms, even after he told staff he traveled from Liberia. Also we have now learned that up to 80 people could have been impacted either directly or indirectly by this man.

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson forced to step down following a series of stunning security breaches that could have put the president's life at risk.

Turkey may be about to join the U.S.-led fight against ISIS. The parliament there set to debate authorizing the deployment of Turkish military troops to Iraq and Syria.

Police in Hong Kong calling on protesters to leave peacefully and quickly. This comes after protesters staged a huge sit-in and threatened to occupy government buildings.

And the San Francisco Giants punching their ticket to the national league division series. They just simply pummeled the Pittsburgh Pirates last night 8-0. The Giants go on to face the Washington Nationals.

We're always updating the five things you need to know, so go to newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

Michaela.

PEREIRA: One more thing to know, October marks National Bullying Prevention Month and we want to call your attention to a big push from our colleagues at the Cartoon Network. They want a million videos from kids, parents, teachers, celebrities talking about bullying. So, please, go to stopbullyingspeakup.com to find out how to upload your very own video to learn more or spread the word using the #ispeakup.

Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: We should make one of those.

PEREIRA: Let's do it. Can we? Together? CUOMO: Yes. Absolutely.

PEREIRA: We'll include Berman.

CUOMO: In the break. I don't know about Berman.

PEREIRA: Bully.

CUOMO: So you nominated them. He is a bully. So who made the cut for the top ten CNN Heroes of 2014?

There he is, Anderson Cooper.

PEREIRA: He's using the staircase.

CUOMO: He's here with the big reveal. Why is he on those stairs?

PEREIRA: I don't know.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: The best thing ever. As you know, every week we share a story with you about, you know, you bring us the Good Stuff, some good things that are happening in the world. Well, it's a buildup right now to the biggest event CNN has, CNN Heroes, someone changing the world every day.

We went last year to the CNN Heroes all-star tribute. Saw amazing people honored for their accomplishments, impact service and service to others today. We get to reveal the top ten CNN Heroes of this year, 2014. Anderson Cooper is here very early this morning. We apologize - -

ANDERSON COOPER, HOST "ANDERSON COOPER 360": I know, very happy to be here. Its a great - -

PEREIRA: But this is a great thing. Its a thing that we all love.

COOPER: It really is. Yes. I mean, you know, its everyday people who really are changing the world, and there were thousands of nominees this year nominated by viewers around the world. We widdled it down to the top ten - -

PEREIRA: That's tough.

COOPER: - - CNN Heroes of the year. So, here they are. Here are your top ten CNN Heroes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): From England, Jon Burns. He made it his mission to mobilize the passion of fellow soccer fans to make a difference. Now he and volunteers have helped thousands of poor children in cities hosting the World Cup in Euro games.

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Wendy Ross is opening new worlds to Autistic children and their families. Since 2010 her program has helped more than 200 families navigate the challenge of public settings.

From Guatemala, Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes. He turned his family's home into a refuge for young people in his violent-stricken country, providing educational opportunities and support to more than 1,000 children.

From Albany, New York, Ned Norton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready to go to work?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Heck yes.

COOPER: The last 25 years he's provided strength and conditioning training to hundreds of people living with disabilities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stretch up. Nice job.

COOPER: From Hartford, Connecticut, Patricia Kelly. Her farm is an urban oasis for at risk kids in her hometown where she uses horses as a hook to keep youth off the streets and on the right track.

Leela Hazzah lives most of the year in the Amboseli region of Kenya, where she's helping to preserve the lion population. Her group has transformed dozens of Africa's so called lion killers into lion protectors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take it right before the melody comes in.

COOPER: From Washington, D.C., Arthur Bloom. Professional musician helps injured troops at Walter Reed Medical Center. Through his program hundreds of wounded warriors have tapped into the healing power of music.

From England, Pen Farthing. This former British officer rescued a street dog while serving in Afghanistan. His group has now reunited almost 700 other soldiers with the stray animals they befriended there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't believe that they're here.

COOPER: From Baltimore, Maryland, Annette March-Grier grew up in her family's funeral home. Now she helps families in her native city cope with grief.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His father died, so he's feeling very bad.

COOPER: Since 2008 she's provided a safe place for nearly 1,000 children to heal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good.

COOPER: And from South Field, Michigan, rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, lost his daughter to Leukemia, now he's helping kids use martial arts to cope with the pain and fear of their cancer treatments. (END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: Hardest thing you have to do is pick this. Oh, but wait, you don't have to.

COOPER (on camera): I don't have to, that's right.

PEREIRA: Relief.

COOPER: Yes, it's entirely up to viewers. So, everybody at home just go to CNNheroes.com and you can vote. You can vote once a day, every day up until mid-November.

PEREIRA: It is such a refreshing thing, given especially all the headlines that we have. You know, I think all of us are so happy that we have this to tell people about, right?

COOPER: This is so inspiring. I mean, these are people who don't necessarily have money, they don't necessarily have access to power or anything, but they saw a need in their community and they just rolled up their sleeves and they started to do something. And it's great that we're able to recognize them and actually, you know, they've already been awarded $25,000, each of the top ten here.

PEREIRA: They're all winners already.

COOPER: So they all got $25,000 for their work, and then according to who gets nominated as the top CNN Hero, the CNN Hero of the year, they get an extra $100,000 for their work.

PEREIRA: That is amazing.

CUOMO: And the money matters for a lot of these small organizations. As relative newcomers to CNN- - -

PEREIRA: All three of us, yes.

CUOMO: - - for each of us this was always a source of envy that CNN did this, because this was really valuing the right people for the right thing.

COOPER: Yes, I mean, we all come across people in the field who we think God, they're doing such great work, I wish I could, you know, do something for them. It's a great way to do that.

PEREIRA: Well, and they're often the ones that don't want the spotlight, too. I love extra. Vote now, as Anderson told you, you can help choose the CNN Hero of the year. Go to CNNheroes.com and, as he said, you can vote once a day. You can do it every day, which is awesome.

CUOMO: Vote early and often as John Berman says.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: And you have to watch it only to see Anderson get emotional. Anderson gets broken up every year.

COOPER: I bring up that emotion, it's very hard for me to do, but every now and then I do.

CUOMO: No, no, you are the man.

Alright, we're going to take a little break. When we come back an overwhelmed waiter gives one couple a terrible night on the town. The service was just not good, and you know what he got in return, the waiter, what'd they get? The tip of a lifetime. What's going on here? The power of the Good Stuff. Maybe a hero in the making, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Time for the Good Stuff. We told you about people giving massive tips before for good service or just because. Well, here's a switch. Great tip for awful service. Here's the situation. Waiter Kyle Hanson, he didn't mean to be awful, but the restaurant was really busy and all the other waiters had called in sick.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYLE HANSON, WAITER, MADE COUPLE WAIT 90 MINUTES FOR DINNER: It was pretty stressful, but, I mean, what are your options? You can either freak out or just do what needs to be done.

CUOMO (voice-over): One couple waited more than an hour for their food. Lucky for Kyle, though, they were both ex-waiters themselves. When the check came, they left $100 as a tip on a $66 tab, also a note.

HANSON: We've both been in your shoes, just paying it forward. That was a super unexpected and really nice, I mean, it caught me off guard. A little misty I guess, I don't know.

CUOMO: I'm a little misty, too, Kyle. The couple shared the story on Facebook to encourage others. It's been shared more than a million times, and that's why it is the Good Stuff.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: I sign off on that.

CUOMO (on camera): Right?

PEREIRA: Well done.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Its not hard, if you're looking around, you're seeing he's the only guy there. I mean, come on. I expect (inaudible)

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: I'm there right now.

CUOMO: Also, big tipper. JB is a big tipper. If you serve JB, be looking for a big tip.

BERMAN: You set me up.

CUOMO: A lot of news. Let's get you to the "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello. Carol Costello, big tipper.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I am a bigger tipper, actually. I am. Have a great day, thanks so much.

NEWSROOM starts now.