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NEW DAY

100 People Being Monitored for Ebola; Questions Grow in the Fight Against Ebola; Interview with Decontee Kofa

Aired October 3, 2014 - 06:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning: in Texas, some 100 people now being monitored after direct or indirect contact with Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan. Meanwhile, in Liberia, a freelance cameraman for NBC waiting for a flight back to the U.S. after being diagnosed with Ebola.

Are we getting the real deal? About controlling any spread risk here in the U.S.? Are we doing the right thing, sending troops to West Africa to stop the virus there? Should we stop travel to and from that area of the world for right now?

Let's get some answers to these obvious questions.

We have our lieutenant colonel, Rick Francona, CNN military analyst.

We have Mary Schiavo, you know here, CNN aviation analyst, the former inspector-general of the Department of Transportation.

And Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent.

Lady and gentlemen, please engage the obvious for me on this.

Sanjay, I have -- we've been beating this drum. It seems like someone doesn't know what they're doing. You told me people on the plane weren't at risk. Now, you're trying to find the people on the plane. You told me it was just a handful of people. Now, you're up to 100. You had people in bubble suits and containing them, now they're locked in an apartment complex in Texas.

It's not breeding confidence, fair point?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Fair point from the optics of it, you know? But, part of this as well, Chris, is the collision of understandable fear, around Ebola colliding with the science of what we know. One of those hasn't changed, and that's the science part of this.

So, when it comes to the passengers, it's understandable they would want to know if they've been on a plane with a guy who subsequently developed Ebola, and is in a hospital in Dallas.

Are they at risk? The real question. You heard from the CDC director. It fits with the science, he said there's zero chance they're at risk.

There's a couple of different points you brought up. I don't know if you adjust them all now, but just take these four people now in quarantine, in Dallas, family and friends of Mr. Duncan.

Just be clear why they're in quarantine. They're not sick. So, they're not at risk of transmitting the virus to other people. They're not sick, which is why people in hazmat suits are not surrounding them. They're not excreting the virus.

Why are they in quarantine? It was to basically sequester them in one place, so they can consistently be monitored and see if they develop any illness. They're going to get their temperature taken. They're going to be evaluated. That's why they're in quarantine. Not because they're a threat to the general public, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. But how they're being treated seems a little off, you know, because you have the sick people in the bubble suits, it seems to express some kind of urgency.

These guys are locked in their own apartment. They still have the bedding from when the sick man was there. They're not getting their food. The power went out in the apartment complex. Neighbors had to open their doors.

Just doesn't seem like the right way to show you're prepared for the situation, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Absolutely, Chris. I don't know what excuses you can come up with this. I don't know what excuses we can come up with earlier in the week, why the man was sent home without his travel history being adequately known. Those are just bad stumbles.

And you know, what's particularly tough about this, is you know for months they've been thinking about this, for months I think Chris, you and I talked months ago and said, this is going to happen, what has happened this week. Someone is going to show up here and be diagnosed with Ebola.

So, several of these, they could have anticipated several of these needs. They didn't clean up this apartment.

CUOMO: Right.

GUPTA: So, there's still sheets and towels, and part of the reason they said is they couldn't find a medical contracting company who would do the job. You could understand, if you get a call yesterday, will you go clean up an apartment that, you know, potentially is contaminated with Ebola, you're probably not going to have a lot of takers on that.

But the point is they should have figured some of this stuff out earlier. Who is going to do this? And there's a lot of growing pains here, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. So, let's hit a couple of other points, because, Sanjay, you're going to stay with us on the show. So, when we do Dr. Friedan from the CDC, we can put the right questions to him. It's accountability time for them.

Mary, the planes are back in the air, that have been used when someone was diagnosed. They say, well, we cleaned them. With the ambulance, they cotton-balled it and put it behind a big wall.

Are we doing the right thing with these airplanes? Should we be flying to that part of the world at all right now?

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: No, we should not. An airplane presents a very unique threat vector. When you move an airplane from West Africa to the United States, it's like you're moving a small village here from West Africa, because it's not only the passengers, you've got the caters and the water, the people who clean the bathrooms, the people who put luggage on board. You've moved this whole city with the potential problems, not to mention the passengers on board.

And, of course, the CDC is talking out of both sides of its mouth. It says standing in moon suits telling people not to worry, and saying, oh, there's no problem. But yet, the CDC yesterday issued guidelines, saying if you have a suspected passenger, if you suspect somebody on board had Ebola, the cleaning crew is supposed to board in moon suits, including with face protection, double-gloving, closed shoes, et cetera. That's so contradictory to what they're telling the American public.

So, I think the government is learning on the fly here.

CUOMO: Sanjay, you're shaking your head.

GUPTA: Well, I don't think it's contradictory, Mary. If someone is sick with Ebola, then they could potentially spread the disease. That is known, that is what has been said all along.

If you're comparing it to how the family in Dallas is being treated, again, the reason they don't have people surrounding them with hazmat suits is because they're not sick. Everyone has said all along, when you are sick you can transmit the virus and that's the highest concern time period.

CUOMO: And look, there's no question that the trick in communicating this is just because you're near someone who has it, doesn't mean you'll definitely get it. And if you don't show symptoms, you can't be contagious to other people.

That's the disconnect. That's the finesse point that people have to get -- and it's tricky and we'll try to keep being consistent on the message.

The last point to have you here, Lieutenant Colonel Francona, is going to be very good. We're sending the men and women who matter the most in terms of safety, when we think of the U.S. trying to keep the troops safe, into what can only be seen as a situation where they'll be exposed to Ebola. The idea that they're going to get out there clean is naive at a

minimum. Is it the right move?

LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, they bring a set of unique capabilities that no one else has. I mean, they can move a lot of things very quickly and set up capabilities they need over there. They can do all sorts of things. They can bring more sanitation, water purification, communications, security.

Whatever is needed over there, the U.S. military can provide and they can provide it quickly. That's why the president is doing this. They're the people -- we're the people you call.

CUOMO: What about the World Health Organization?

FRANCONA: They don't have these kind of resources. They can bring small things to bear. We're talking about thousands of people moving a lot of cargo, we do that better than anybody else. We have the capability.

We train to do this all the time. Much of our training is done in Africa, building hospitals, building clinics, building orphanages. So, now, we're doing it for real, when there's a real need.

So, I think that this is a good use of the military, in a noncombat environment.

CUOMO: Lieutenant Colonel Francona, Mary Schiavo, Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay, you don't get to go anywhere. We need too much on these things.

But thank you very much to all three of you for clarifying the main points of push-back that we're getting because the questions are growing, just as the situation does.

And in the 8:00 hour, we'll be answering your questions. Keep using the Twitter hashtag for us, #EbolaQandA. We know you have questions and we will get to them, OK?

We're also going to talk to Dr. Frieden from the CDC about it.

And remember, that hashtag again, I want to keep giving it to you is #EbolaQandA. All right?

Also, a man who lost his life to Ebola. Now, his widow has made it her mission to help other victims of the virus along with their family. We're going to ask her about the work that she's doing and what she thinks it will take to stop this terrifying outbreak. Some unique perspective for you, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY. Let's take a look at the headlines right now.

One of the biggest cybersecurity breaches ever, banking giant JPMorgan Chase says the accounts of some 76 million personal customers and 7 million small businesses were compromised. The company insists there is no evidence that account numbers, passwords or other personal information was stolen by hackers. Still, though, pretty unsettling.

Breaking this morning, ISIS has entered the key city of Kobani on the border between Syria and Turkey. They now control the southwest corner of that city. Kurdish fighters are trying to push them back. This after Turkey voted to authorize military action against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. Australia also joining the U.S.-led coalition, saying it will launch air strikes against is in Iraq.

Abortion opponents in Texas celebrating a federal appeals court ruling that allows the state to enforce a sweeping anti-abortion law. It effectively closes all but seven abortion facilities in that state, trumping a lower court decision. The law requires clinics to meet hospital-level operating standards to remain open. Abortion rights advocates are expected to appeal.

So, sometimes, Joe Biden says stuff. The vice president had a speaking engagement at Harvard University's Institute of Politics last night. Afterwards, a member of the student government tried to fire off a question. So, listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a senior at the college. I'm the vice president of the student body here.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Isn't it a bitch? Excuse me. That vice president thing?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, I have to give that one a genuinely funny thing. But the vice president afterwards, assured the student that he really loves his job of being vice president and he also likes, quote, "the guy" that he works for.

CUOMO: I didn't understand the context of a female dog in that discussion.

BERMAN: Well, that's a whole other issue, Mr. Cuomo.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: We have so much to work with here, John.

CUOMO: I still love Biden for what he is, I just do. I think his candor is refreshing. When he is insensitive, he owns it.

PEREIRA: Yes, he does. He does. That's absolutely true.

CUOMO: What more can you ask, perfection?

BERMAN: That's what we come to, you know, appreciating you.

PEREIRA: I think from that, I'm going to turn to Indra, quickly, and talk about the weather.

In all seriousness, we have some serious situations moving through Texas. Some storms doing some damage.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Rough day, actually, out towards Dallas, especially -- we have reports of severe storms making their way through the area. We're talking about winds as strong as 100 miles per hour. Many reports of wind damage were out there. Take a look, downed power lines as well as trees and unfortunately the same line of storms is still with us even this morning, now kind of pushing through Houston, kind of making its way farther east.

So, there you go. You can see the line of storms, where the heaviest rain today will be will be around the Ohio Valley. But the storm is still going to be here, even by the time we go towards the weekend in through tomorrow, Northeast, you're going to get the bull's eye of the heaviest rain.

Now, keep in mind, this is a strong cold front. That's the reason we did see the severe weather. So, behind the system, how about your first flurries of the year? That's the time of year already for the Midwest. They're going to see the snow flurries, for the rest of you -- it just means the cold air has moved in.

I mean, look at this. You're seeing a lot of blue here on the map. Right now, already seeing temperatures below freezing. But all this cold air, if you think okay, its not me, well it will be. This cool air is pushing off to the East by even as early as tomorrow.

Look at these highs. Chicago, you want a high? Try 48 degrees for your weekend. On Saturday, all this cool air makes its way to the Northeast really about a day later or so. So temperatures will be diving down as well. And you know what, if you say 60s aren't bad, we didn't talk about the morning lows. The morning lows will be in the 30s out towards Chicago, some 40s. Lovely New York City.

PEREIRA: Oh, you and those 30's.

PETERSONS: I'm staying indoors. It's just that time of year already.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I'll tell you what, a little bit of context here. What's going on in Texas matters to the Ebola situation. Those storms were hitting that apartment complex where that family is held up. Power went out, people had to open their doors.

PEREIRA: Had their windows and doors open.

CUOMO: Right? To deal with the situation. What does that mean in terms of any spreading risk?

PEREIRA: Also, challenging getting to people, too, right?

CUOMO: That's right.

PEREIRA: We saw the video.

CUOMO: That's right. A lot of layers of concern here, so we're going to stay on the story.

As you know, the first case of Ebola has been diagnosed in the United States. Now, one woman is on a crusade to help victims and their families, and she has a unique motivation. Ebola killed her husband, he's an American, and it happened this summer. You're going to hear from her, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: There are hope and prayers this morning for an American freelance cameraman who has now been diagnosed with Ebola while working in Liberia for NBC. This comes just months after an American man succumbed to the disease in West Africa.

Patrick Sawyer was diagnosed with Ebola after travelling to Nigeria from Liberia for a business conference. He died just days later. He left behind three beautiful girls and a wife. She's now made it her mission to help survivors and family members of those battling infectious diseases.

Joining us this morning from Minnesota, Decontee Kofa. She's founder and executive director of the Kofa Foundation and the widow of the late Patrick Sawyer. It is so good to

see you, my dear. The last time we spoke, darling, you were reeling from the loss of Patrick.

DECONTEE KOFA, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVER DIRECTOR, KOFA FOUNDATION: Yes.

PEREIRA: How are you and the girls doing?

KOFA: The girls and I are doing okay. We're doing really good. We're keeping it together. We have a lot of support from our family member, friends and community. So we're doing well. Thank you.

PEREIRA: I am so glad to hear that, and it's nice to see a smile on your face. I know it's not been easy. I was also thinking about the fact that you're in a --

KOFA: Yes. I could barely smile before.

PEREIRA: You barely could. I was thinking about the fact that you are in an extraordinarily rare situation. You can very much relate to what is going on in Dallas. We see the situation of a patient there who has been diagnosed. His loved ones are now quarantined in a home there.

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: What have you been hearing, what have you been watching, and what are you feeling when you see this situation play out?

KOFA: Yes. So the moment I found out about it was on your channel, on CNN. I was watching the news and I heard about it, breaking news, and it took me back. It took me back to the day Patrick died. Well actually, the day before. The day I found out he had Ebola. And so it took me back to that and those feelings, and I immediately could connect with what the family there may be going through. The first thing I thought about was his family.

PEREIRA: They're quarantined, they are locked up essentially under armed guard, being forced to stay in their home out of concerns, right? They're concerned about the fact- -

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: - - that they may have come in contact with him, and of course the authorities are now checking every person who may have come in contact with this patient. I know that you have really found a sense of purpose in spreading awareness and fighting for more justice and dignity, and also fighting the spread of Ebola. Tell me about your concerns about the situation in Dallas.

KOFA: That's right. That's right. My concern about the situation in Dallas is, is that people may panic, and there's no need to panic I don't believe because, thank God, we live in America. The U.S. has the best health care system in the world.

And so we're able to identify, contain and treat with compassion, folks who are diagnosed with Ebola. And so, there's no need to panic, we're not going to have an outbreak here like we do in West Africa. So, that's the good news. The thing is that this is a wake-up call that Ebola can come here at any time if nothing is done to eradicate it in the West African region.

PEREIRA: So, its sort of a two-part, it's a two-part thing. So let's continue talking about the vein here, I want to ask you what you have heard from the Liberian-American community, because I know that you're in contact with your friends, your network.

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: The community there. We know there are Liberian Americans all across the United States. What are you hearing?

KOFA: Yes. They're afraid, they're afraid of being stigmatized. The Liberian-American community, the members that I spoke with, my own friends and family members, and well-wishers are, they're afraid of being stigmatized.

They don't want to be ostracized because they're Liberians and to be labeled. A friend of mine was telling me yesterday that she went to the hospital because she had a sore throat. And her, her doctor, who has been her doctor for many, many, many years, stood and talked with her from across the room.

PEREIRA: Goodness.

KOFA: And then she said she said to him I know you know I'm Liberian, but I want you to know that I haven't been to Liberia in many years, and I haven't gotten in contact with anyone who went to Liberia. And she just felt -- you know, just weird about the situation but could understand his fear. And so that fear is real. And folks want it to stop. They want something to be done to bring an end to this.

PEREIRA: Well, fear is a powerful emotion, we know. I appreciate you urging calm. I really do. Let's talk about the situation in West Africa.

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: You have spoken quite powerfully, and I know you're doing work here in America to spread awareness about the need for more to be done. What would you like to see happening in West Africa, aside from eradicating the disease entirely. But specifically, what would you like to see? You want to see more personnel sent? You want to see airports close? What would you like?

KOFA: Yes, yes. I heard earlier on your segment where someone was questioning if it's the right thing to send troops down there to help with the virus.

PEREIRA: Yes, U.S. military.

KOFA: Whether it's right to send folks, yes, U.S. military and I say absolutely. Absolutely.

PEREIRA: Are you concerned about their welfare?

KOFA: I am. I am concerned about their welfare, and so I really hope that all precautions being taken so that they're protected. But the thing is, if we don't help there, if we don't send troops there, if we don't send health care professionals there to help, because I mean obviously they need the help. Let's face it. They're not equipped there to handle this situation.

PEREIRA: And what about other international partners? I imagine that there are many people in America that are saying the responsibility isn't just on American shoulders here.

KOFA: And I agree with that. I agree with that, I urge other international partners to step up, too, because Ebola is everyone's problem. It's all of our problems. And so it's not just an American problem or a West African problem.

PEREIRA: Sure.

KOFA: All international partners.

PEREIRA: Decontee, I want to ask you one last thing here . Before I lose you I want to ask you one last thing.

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: Louise, the woman that's quarantined in their apartment in Dallas, obviously it's a trying time for her as a mother, as a woman - -

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: - - living here with this threat of Ebola, very real in her world. What would you say to her right now if she's watching?

KOFA: You know, I'll say to her, you're not alone. You're not alone. I'm with you. I hear you. I see you. I can imagine, I'm probably the only person, or one of the few people, well the only person here in the U.S. that knows what you must be going through.

Stay calm. Listen to the instructions, don't leave your home. We're praying with you, and we hope that all is well. I will do everything in my power to reach out to you. So just stay calm.

PEREIRA: Decontee Kofa - -

KOFA: And the Kofa Foundation - -

PEREIRA: Yes.

KOFA: The Kofa Foundation is committed to helping families like Louise 's.

PEREIRA: Yes, and maybe she can get some resources- -

KOFA: To reach out to them.

PEREIRA: - - and support from you. We appreciate that.

KOFA: Yes.

PEREIRA: Decontee Kofa, thank you so very much. Hopefully that message will reach Louise 's ears, okay, will reach Louise's ears.

KOFA: Thank you.

PEREIRA: Good to talk to you.

KOFA: Thank you.

PEREIRA: You stay well.

So, a lot of news today to get to, let's start with it right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An American freelance cameraman in Liberia tests positive for Ebola.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The cameraman was flown back by NBC to the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Health officials now looking at 100 people in the Dallas area who may have had contact with Thomas Eric Duncan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did Mr. Duncan lie to airport screeners about being exposed to Ebola? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fact that he knew and he left the country is

unpardonable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We placed an order of the family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My son should stay home, my nephew. Every one of us should stay home for 21 days.

(END VIDEOTAPEP)

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome back to NEW DAY.

Breaking news out of Texas. Health officials there scrambling to keep up with the growing Ebola crisis. They're monitoring now about 100 people who had direct or indirect contact with Thomas Duncan, the Liberian man who's being treated for the deadly virus right now in a Dallas hospital. If Duncan recovers, authorities in Liberia plan to prosecute him. They claim he lied when he told them he had not been in contact with anyone infected with Ebola.

We also have new information this morning about this man, freelance NBC cameraman who was in Liberia, just tested positive for the virus. He, too, is going to be flown back to the U.S. The question is can we keep flying patients home without increasing the risk to American communities? We've got every angle of this breaking story covered for you this morning, beginning with chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta who has spoken with the NBC crew in Liberia.

Doc, what did you learn?

GUPTA: Yes, Dr. Snyderman and I have been trading emails. They're on their way back, as you know. She said she doesn't know how this particular gentleman, Mr. Mukpo, was actually exposed. That's something that's still being investigated. But he did have a fever and that's what prompted his testing.

The rest of the crew sounds like they're doing fine, but she did point out that they're all going to be quarantined when they get back. Sort of standard protocol for someone who has come in contact with Ebola.

Now, one of the things I'll tell you as well is that, you know, when we come to Mr. Duncan and his family, there's obviously been a lot of missteps. They're in the places they need to be, but right now, you know, it's, it's clear that it hasn't been an easy path to get there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (voice-over): Health officials now looking at 100 people in the Dallas area who may have had contact with Thomas Eric Duncan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There could be additional cases who were already exposed.