Pandemic Fears

" Own words but first that deadly flu -- it and who is going to get it. Now here's what we know Mexico City is ground zero for the swine flu outbreak but guess what. It is already here eleven confirmed cases in California but California State health officials warn this is only the beginning that number is growing. A married couple in Kansas has been infected. The man returning recently from a trip to Mexico six confirmed case in Texas three of the cases are students at a high school near San Antonio. One confirmed case in Ohio and nine year old boy -- just returned home from a trip but this -- to Mexico. And there is more at least 28 confirmed cases in New York City. Most -- connected to a private school in Queens some students say they have returned from Mexico. Also tonight reports of a staffer at Ernst and young in times square confirmed to be infected with the flow. But this is only. And what has been confirmed New Jersey health officials say they've identified five probable cases of swine -- He people who recently traveled to Mexico and California. The CDC taking every necessary precaution."

" Yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency. This is in recognition that this it is as serious event and we are taking it seriously and acting aggressively."

" President -- up also speaking on the outbreak."

" This is obviously -- cause for concern and requires. -- heightened state of alert."

" But it's not a cause for -- war."

" Homeland Security secretary -- out trying to stay ahead of the outbreak."

" We do not yet know. How widespread this -- will be within the United States. So we continue to move aggressively to prepare."

" The outbreak is going global confirmed cases in Canada Spain and Britain -- cases and several other countries. Well who is next what is the risk is a spiral out of control and -- more people end up dying. Join us live is doctor Leigh Vinocur ER doctor from the University of Maryland school of medicine -- doctor let me -- the one to attend skill first ten been very terrified in a very serious shop where are we -- this one to ten scale on -- swine -- Well."

" I think you know most officials are saying we we shouldn't be terrified and an alarmed. But we've certainly should be concerned sell a lot of -- between five and six at least take it seriously. And think about it it has all the makings of a pandemic. What so bat about this thank you look at the flew all the time but we're hearing about people are -- dying from this. Well people died from the flu to Greta but this -- is very interesting and -- and the reason I said it has the makings of a pandemic is because. It's a brand new virus it's a combination of the bird -- the combination of the -- human influenza seasonal virus. And -- swine -- and we never seen it before so when you've never seen a virus you have a new introduction -- the large population that susceptible. And it is severe in Mexico -- they've got officials still are not exactly sure why it's been some more severe in Mexico that it's been in the United States but the CDC is afraid that as case -- progress in the United States. Will see people that'll have more severe disease and be -- and the third thing is that it transmits so easily I mean everyone worried about the bird flu epidemic. And pandemic but it never really panned out because -- it doesn't go from human to human easily this one is like the regular. Not flu -- Sarah how easy is it to transfer -- it -- walking past someone and it airport -- at Disney World -- kitty coming out is how easy. If they caught one you're walking past them or if they blow -- now than they just grab the door handle. It transmits almost as easy as the human influenza virus so that's why officials are telling people. You know cover your mouth when you coffins needs if you do feel sick don't go out in public you know airplanes -- circulate the air so it's easy to spread between humans."

" Isn't silly silly -- everyone goes a gas station and touches the gas now so people opened car doors people opening door knobs are we talking it can it be transfered that easily -- me it -- conscious of a sneeze or cough. But people who don't pay attention but their hands on the rest of -- the airplane -- how easy is this."

" It is you know during that this season of our regular -- those people pick it up and they don't really recall anyone coughing in their face and what happens if people -- and then they touch something and then somebody else comes along and touch of that door handle or -- button number one which everybody bush is on the elevator. Then you touch your eyes and you touch or no then you get something to eat without washing your may have. And that's -- you catch the flu and that's how this -- swine flu is now being transmitted. I hear any I got to people commit sick -- price going to see moments lines look how we don't get and -- doctors and not -- a well you know so far we haven't seen that many doctors getting -- we don't know but during the flu season one of the recommendations is that doctors. Get a flu shot because we do get it and people do popping your faith you know open your mouth say use the time -- I can't tell you how many times people pop in my faith. But. Right now you know we're not seeing I have been talking to colleagues around the country and in places like in New York where there -- a lot of cases 300 people are coming into the -- complaining of colds and cough. It's not flu season now so it it's less confusing if it was in the middle of -- losing that it would be even more confusing. But people have allergies but that's -- I think health departments are saying. In Lester very sick meaning you have trouble breathing you noticed that your lips are blue those are signs that you're having a very serious. Reaction then you need to go to the hospital but if you just feel a -- and tired go home get some rats try to not be around people take you know. -- trend and tylenol and see how you get."

" That did thank you. My -- Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano has been on the hot seat for recent -- but now the big tests swine flu is she ready from a senator Rick Santorum joins this beating senator can she set me. Gaps that PI guess -- talk about now the real test she says we should close their borders to Mexico. What should she do how she doing."

" What actually I think the entire administration's actually done a pretty good job I think they have they've done the right things in releasing the the -- and and -- is -- which is important -- out and pre -- just in case we -- that they're -- not to -- They're giving people practical instructions on what to do. They're not overreacting by closing the border. You know I would I would actually give the administration very very high marks -- my prompter is not keeping up I'm it was a joke. And -- since itself and so they you know that they've done they've done a good job really a --"

" And it -- well I note that joke that's the President Obama -- show grabbed I didn't get violent act. I'm sorry what did the World Health Organization a look at the numbers has enough anti viral for five million. Five million a lot but we've got about 300 -- here just the United States at I mean millions we have a New York City are we mean. I want to be an alarmist but if you get sick you want something to Texas."

" Well now we have we have fifty million courses and and that came from die when I was in the Senate a few years ago we had the bird flu scare and President Bush. -- went forward and said look we are gonna we're gonna stockpiling anti viral and medication so if we in fact get this Avian flu outbreak. We're going to have enough courses when I -- course army doses I don't mean he didn't you know one hell. Talking about of course for someone to take over the over the life of of you know club of being treated. So we have fifty million courses the releasing a quarter of them right now I think that's that's ample given what what we know. You don't. If we have a pandemic. Are we going to have enough who knows but -- but we certainly aren't very very good shape at this point I would say."

" I disagree -- really draw the line between being overly alarmist and informing the public to be very -- wash your hands a lot don't touch that ATM machine and pitcher Ryan your nose and everything -- that where we -- what's the advice in the media covering this one."

" But the advice the media as provide all the information that is out there that this is this is all going to be did you you're going to see it. You're going to see it come around you're going to see the reports from the hostile if you're going to see the reports from the CDC. And simply cover everything. Don't hype that you won't need to -- if this thing explodes do you trust me you're not going to need to -- at all and if it doesn't it's gonna be a story that's gonna be gone in a week or two and -- won't say while there's another. It on another hype over -- because they -- the age of media and let's hope that that's the case but this this store will pan out with the facts and just keep feeding them public."

" Sector -- it popped up should she stay should she'd go how she's doing because -- heat last week."

" What she should have got -- a minute you know the fact of the matter is we -- one single Iraqi or Afghani war veteran commit any cut crimes against this country in fact that that the crime rate for the returning veterans is lower than the general public in fact substantially lower than the general public and and for her to you know to have to say -- I apologize this offends anybody was a really bad thing. This is a great opportunity for her this is a chance for her to change public perception of her -- to -- out there and handle this you know mature way confidently. It. I wouldn't say it looking at a press conference is she was you know hitting all -- I think she looked a little bit of the deer in the headlights. But so far she hasn't made any mistakes this is a chance for her to redeem herself."

" Senator thank you -- are up next -- look at this video. Here five New -- and running for."