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CNN 10
Quarantine Debate; Hawaii Volcano Threatens Village
Aired October 29, 2014 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks for spending ten minutes of your Wednesday with CNN STUDENT NEWS. I`m Carl Azuz at the CNN Center. There are more
than 1,000 U.S. troops in West Africa helping prevent the spread of Ebola. Thousands more are set to deploy. For some in the Army, there`s a
mandatory 21 day quarantine when they return to their base in Italy.
But for civilians who`ve traveled to the U.S. from Ebola-stricken areas, that`s up for debate. The U.S. government has revised its guidelines a
couple of times now. Some criticize it for overreacting to the Ebola threat. Some call CDC`s guidelines too confusing. Some criticize it for
not doing enough to protect Americans.
But here`s the thing: the CDC doesn`t have the authority to enforce its guidelines. States do, and a few have added their own regarding who gets
quarantined and when. It`s not illegal, the Constitution allows states to impose stricter health regulations than the federal government. But they
can`t be challenged.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: San Francisco`s China Town was given a year-long quarantine order after a suspected case of the bubonic plague in
the early 1900s. This black and white video shows men, most likely the Health Department committee checking for disease. And then there`s
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the late 1800s, this startling historic illustration shows how a small pox outbreak forces people into isolation
hospitals.
Perhaps, America`s most famous quarantine happened right behind me: on Ellis Island, 12 million people were processed, more than 2 million would
be hospitalized or quarantined.
CNN`s review of quarantine and isolation`s statutes across the country reveals that all 50 states have the power to isolate and quarantine. At
least give states, specifically detail their power to treat the sick involuntarily, at least four states mean business. Violating the order is
a felony. Wisconsin could have the stiffest fine, $10,000. Mississippi, the longest jail sentence, five years.
The Centers for Disease Control is not recommending mandatory quarantines for everyone traveling from West Africa.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Deeply concerned about the Ebola situation.
FLORES: But a pen stroke could change that, if President Obama exercises his executive power allowing federal authorities to detain and medically
examine people traveling between states or entering the country.
(on camera): What prevents the government from overstepping its powers?
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Whenever a citizen is incarcerated or confined, you can go into court and say to a judge, I`ve been locked up
without good cause, and I want a hearing on the issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AZUZ: So, are fears about Ebola well founded? Also, what for debate: The World Health Organization says there`ve been more than 10,000 suspected
cases of Ebola in this year`s outbreak. It`s the worst in recorded history.
The CDC says on average, 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu every year.
Still, one difference is, that people are far more likely to survive the flu.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has now spurred debates about whether you`ll be infected while flying or make doctors don hazmat suits or cause local
governments to impose quarantines, but between five and 20 percent of the U.S. population between now and February will likely come down with the
flu. Though most people will suffer only fever, aches or chills, but the very young, the very old or those who are already sick, the flu can be
fatal.
DR. JESSE GOODMAN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: The defenses are weakened by the flu virus and a bacteria can come in and set up sharp in the longs, so when
that happens, you know, your lungs are compromised. You might have very bad craft, you might even become unable to breathe without assistance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unlike Ebola, which is hard to get, the flu is easily transmitted by casual contact. On public transit and restaurants, at any
public event. And flu pandemics have ravaged the world. In 1918, the Spanish flu killed an estimated 30 to 50 million people, perhaps many
millions more. Still, less than half of the U.S. population receives a flu shot, so the CDC says in any given year, 200,000 people will get a severe
case of the flu, so severe they`ll wind up in the hospital.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AZUZ: So we got this segment called Roll Call. It`s a chance to have your school announced on CNN Student News. There is now only one way to submit
a request, and you need to be at least 13 years old. Go to cnnstudentnews.com, click where it says "roll call," and leave a comment at
the bottom of our transcript page. We`ll pick three schools from each day`s transcript. You can make one request every day, but spamming will
not help you. Please tell us your school name, city, state, and mascot. Good luck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Time for the shoutout. What is the southernmost U.S. state? If you think you know it, shout it out. Is it Louisiana, Hawaii,
Texas or Florida? You`ve got 3 seconds, go.
At around 21 degrees north latitude, Honolulu, Hawaii is farther south than Key West, Florida. That`s your answer and that`s your shoutout.
AZUZ: Hawaii`s big island is even farther south than the capital in Honolulu, and its Mount Kilauea, one of the most active volcanic masses on
earth, is threatening to destroy a village named Pahoa. It`s a natural disaster in slow motion. A lava flow with heat so high, it melts rock. It
was just feet away from homes when we produced this show. Humans haven`t had great success in stopping lava flows. The thing that`s most effective,
when the volcano stops erupting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right over here, that road block, that`s the way the lava is headed, and this is the main road of town.
Lava on Main Street. In Pahoa on the big island, a 2,000-degree river of molten rock is just a few hundred feet away from the town. And there is no
way to stop it.
Residents are on a moment`s notice to evacuate as the super heated stone threatens the town of 950.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody, including myself, is quite nervous. We can`t see the future. The flow does what the flow does.
SAVIDGE: Hawaii`s famous Kilauea volcano has continuously erupted since 1983. Usually the spectacular lava flows pour south, eventually reaching
the sea. But in June, a new flow started heading the opposite way to the northeast. A dark oozing mass, consuming everything in its path. And
experts say the lava has picked up speed as it heads directly for Pahoa.
Hawaii`s governor, signing a request asking for a presidential disaster declaration and for federal aid.
MAYOR BILL KENOI, HAWAII COUNTY: As it gets closer, the key is communication with the community, keeping people informed, and everybody
continue to work around the clock.
SAVIDGE: Officials going door to door warning residents as the flow inches dangerously close. Already, some roads have been forced to close as the
lava overtakes them. With many residents fearing they`ll be cut off, Hawaii County is rebuilding alternate gravel roads around the expected path
of the lava. People downwind from the smoke have been advised to stay indoors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have asthma myself, and the smoke conditions, if they increase, are going to be hard on some people.
SAVIDGE: It actually has been raining on and off here, but the experts say that has absolutely no impact on the relentlessness of the lava. So the
only hope this town has is that it either suddenly stops or turns direction. Otherwise, the same force of nature that created the Hawaiian
islands could very well destroy this town.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AZUZ: We`ve got some folks watching today from the Northern Mariana Islands. Just northeast of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean, big shoutout
to Tanapog (ph) middle school, our viewers in Saipan. In the northern U.S., it`s the Mount Rushmore state up next. The Tigers of Harrisburg High
School in Harrisburg, South Dakota are on the roll. And in the Peach State, in Kathleen, Georgia, hello to the Gators of Mossy Creek Middle
School.
A British technology company has introduced an idea for a passenger plane without windows. Now, before you ask, where is the fun in that, have a
look. It`s as if the whole thing is a window. Don`t worry, this is not a plane made of glass. Cameras capture live video of the scene outside and
then stream it on the displays on the plane`s walls. The company says without actual windows, planes can be lighter, use less fuel, and have more
room inside. Plus, view. It`s as if every traveler can have his head in the clouds without actually having his head in the clouds. Unless you
(inaudible), it looks plain awesome, really fly. Video technology for the wing. From out of thin air, it really seems to fuselage of good ideas
together.
I`m Carl Azuz for CNN Student News and I`m taking off.
END
