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Ebola Fears in Spain; Dallas Deputy Tests Negative for Ebola; ISIS Presses Forward Despite Airstrikes; Nobel Peace Price Winners Passionate About Children

Aired October 10, 2014 - 09:30   ET

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


ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: OK. So we've got the opening bell ringing, ringing, ringing and we're starting in the red. I don't think you'll need a seat belt today but I'll say, hold on to your hat today, Don, it could be another rough ride, though probably not as rough as yesterday.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, let's hope so. So, just 10 days into the new month and we've seen all this going on. We will be watching. Alison Kosik is there for us at the New York Stock Exchange. Thank you, Alison. Appreciate it.

KOSIK: You've got it. Sure. You're welcome.

LEMON: All right.

All right, let's turn now to talk about Ebola. Nothing to joke about really, especially in an airplane, in an airport. People dying. There's no room for error. So this is what happened aboard a U.S. Airways jet on its way from Philadelphia to the Dominican Republic after a passenger allegedly yelled, I'm quoting here, I'm quoting here, "I have Ebola. You're all screwed." CNN has not been able to confirm the comment, but I want you to listen to what a flight attendant told passengers after the alleged outburst.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've done this for 36 years. I think the man that has said this is an idiot. And I'll say that straight out. If you hear me, that's fine. I want you to keep your wits about you. We have people coming on that are, as we've all been watching the news, so they look like they're in a bubble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Love her. Want her on every flight I have. Following the incident, U.S. Airlines issued this statement. "U.S Airways Flight 845 from Philadelphia to Punta Cana was met yesterday by local officials upon landing due to a possible health issue on board. We are following the direction of, and strictly adhering to, all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in place for airlines in response to the Ebola virus. The flight was checked by officials and cleared. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused but the safety of our customers and employees is our first priority." I want to update you now on two Ebola hot spots we have been closely

following. Dallas, where fears linger after a Liberian man came down with Ebola and died, and Madrid, where Spain's prime minister is now meeting with doctors at the hospital where a nurse's assistant caught the disease from an Ebola patient.

I'm joined now by CNN's Madrid bureau chief Al Goodman, and from Dallas, our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.

First to you, Al. The prime minister visits. More and more people are being hospitalized amid fear they have come in contact with Ebola, right?

AL GOODMAN, CNN'S MADRID BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Don. The prime minister making a surprise, unannounced visit here into this hospital. He has now left. Now, this is the same hospital behind me where Teresa Romero, the only confirmed case with the Ebola virus, is in here. And the prime minister met with the staff. He did not go see her, his aides said. He did not intend to go see her. And he came out and he made a statement. This is a part of it. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIANO RAJOY, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The situation is not a normal situation. It is difficult. But I am absolutely convinced that everything necessary will be done, especially from the professionals, to overcome this in the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOODMAN: Now as he was speaking outdoors, at the door of the hospital, a group of medical workers in white uniforms from the hospital were protesting against him, saying, we are all with Teresa, that's Teresa Romero. They were standing right by his official car. There was some distance. He may not have heard them. But it symbolizes the outcry that you've heard, especially from the medical staff, accusing the government of not giving them the proper training and not giving them the proper equipment and the suits. And they're saying that is maybe why this woman had caught the Ebola virus.

Don.

LEMON: All right. Thank you for that.

You know there are reports that hospital staff is quitting over Ebola fears and staff shortages. So, Elizabeth Cohen, I want to ask you first about this, about other suspected cases of Ebola in Dallas. The deputy sheriff, I understand, his test results came back. What can you tell us about that?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, Don, there was a deputy - there's a deputy sheriff here in Dallas a couple of days ago went to an urgent care center and the word was out that he had had contact with Duncan. A lot of people nervous. But his test results were negative and he was discharged from the hospital. It turns out he never had contact with Duncan. Don.

LEMON: And what about these - do we hear -- what about the shortages in hospitals? Is that - is that happening where you are? Is that where Al is?

COHEN: You mean shortages in terms of personnel and staff?

LEMON: Yes. Yes.

COHEN: You know, they have not discussed that here. I mean it seems that they're using - you know, we haven't heard anything different, that they're just using the regular staff that they have here. We haven't heard outcries that they're not protected.

I mean really any good hospital - really any hospital in the United States should be prepared to work with someone who has an infectious disease like Ebola. They should know, have the equipment to put on. They should know what equipment to put on. So, you know, hopefully, you know, we haven't heard here about anything about shortages or protests.

LEMON: Al, staff shortages where you are or protests?

GOODMAN: Well, the hospital officials acknowledged that some of their staff people have taken psychological leave and they're not giving numbers and that others that they're trying to hire, when they find out what they're supposed to do, work with the Ebola patient or with others who -- the number of about 12 people who are there under monitoring to find out if they get it or not, some of those people are turning around and saying, sorry, no thanks. Now that's also being confirmed by unions. But apparently there are enough people at this time. But, clearly, another troubling sign for this hospital, in particular, and the whole scene across the nation as they come to grips with this, the first case of Ebola being contracted outside of Africa.

Don.

LEMON: And, Elizabeth, you know, if this sheriff's deputy did not have Ebola, you know, he had, you know, coughing and what have you, fever, and it is becoming flu season, how concerned are people that, you know, this is going to sort of escalate. That anyone who comes down with these sorts of conditions or symptoms, people are going to start thinking, my gosh, maybe there's - you know, it's Ebola?

COHEN: I mean, that's a real concern, Don. This deputy here, we're told that he'd never had a fever and still they were concerned about Ebola. I think we're going to see a lot more of this. I mean that people are going to have signs and symptoms of Ebola, which are the same thing as many other viruses, same thing as the flu, and that people are going to begin to wonder, well, were they in Africa, weren't they in Africa? In this case, there seems to have been some confusion early on. There were reports that this man had been in contact with Duncan when, in fact, he hadn't. I think we're going to see other episodes like this one. LEMON: Elizabeth Cohen in Dallas, Al Goodman in Madrid, thanks to both

of you.

Still to come, the battle rages for control of a key Syrian town on Turkish border. Will the Turkish military intervene or will Kobani fall to ISIS? A live report from the border.

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LEMON: A senior U.S. official is in Turkey today trying to pressure the NATO ally to take a more aggressive role against ISIS fighter, now pressing their offensive into the Syrian town of Kobani. The U.S. military says air strikes in Syria took out two ISIS training facilities, plus some vehicles, but it wasn't enough to keep ISIS from advancing. Witnesses report intense street-to-street fighting in the center of the town where Kurdish security forces are headquartered. One fighter said the situation was very bad, with ISIS receiving reinforcements overnight.

CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon is on the Turkish border, and joining us from Orlando is retired Army Lieutenant Mark - Lieutenant General Mark Hertling.

Arwa, let's start with you. What can you tell us from your vantage point?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you were talking about those air strikes, Don, and we just heard what we believe to be two more inside Kobani. Very close to where we think a lot of that fighting you were referencing there has been taking place around those security headquarters.

Now, the strikes also happening very close to the northern part of the city, and that is where we have been hearing ISIS fighters. You can still see that smoke just blowing across everything, but the northern part of the city where we have been receiving numerous reports that ISIS fighters have been trying to advance. Their aim is to encircle the entire city, trying to meet up with their units that are located further to the west.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a Kurdish fighter that CNN spoke to inside, ISIS now controls approximately 40 percent of the city, and that is despite these numerous air strikes. The reasons for that being is that the Kurdish fighting force is outgunned and effectively outmanned. They are unable to get reinforcements in. They're not able to bring them in from Turkey. And all other entrances to Kobani are blocked by ISIS.

ISIS, however, has those direct routes from the province of Aleppo, from their strongholds in Raqqah where they're able to resupply weapons, and also bring in even more fighters. And that is one of the many reasons why the Kurdish fighting forces has been calling on Turkey to open up a weapons corridor, has been trying to get more individuals to fight for it.

There is one Arab brigade, a Free Syrian Army brigade, that is fighting inside as well. Overnight we spoke with the commander of that brigade.

A lot of heavy gunfire. And again what we believe may have been yet another air strike. The crowds gathered around us. They are Kurds. Mostly Turkish Kurds, watching what has been unfolding in Kobani. And you here it here, the sound of yet another explosion. We are hearing the fighter jets overhead.

But people really trying to get a handle on what is happening. If we just pan around to show the crowds of people that are gathered here. These people have been here. They have been watching what has been unfolding, their brethren, across the border for pretty much the last three weeks. It's been a very intense and emotional time for everybody. People very frustrated also because, as you may be able to see, the Turkish tanks are positioned within line of sight of the ISIS fighting positions on the other side. A lot of people asking why Turkey, at this stage, is not doing more.

Turkey, though, for its part, effectively ruling out being part of any sort of ground operation or any sort of coalition, saying it will not do this on its own. And when it comes to any sort of military effort, Turkey says it will only partake if that effort involves not only going after ISIS, but after the Assad regime as well, Don.

LEMON: Yes. And, Arwa, I want to talk to the general about that, but you guys can just pan over, we can show our viewers what just happened. Arwa Damon is on the Turkey-Syrian border right now and there was an air strike just beyond her right shoulder there. And you can see the smoke now billowing from that air strike.

And as we continue to look at these pictures, I want to bring General Hertling in because Arwa mentioned Turkey seeming - you know, they're extremely - not seeming, they are extremely reluctant to get involved militarily, even with ISIS positions within artillery range. Instead, they're insisting on a buffer zone, general, along the border. What exactly would that entail? And is that even feasible now?

MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, Don, what you have to understand is, I think, you know, we're very frustrated, those of us who have worked with the Turkish army. We know they have the capability to do what we would like for them to do, and that is to counter this attack within Kobani.

But, unfortunately, it's a matter of national priorities. Our priorities right now are defeating ISIS and stopping a humanitarian disaster of Kurds in this town. The Turkish national priorities, however, as Arwa just stated, are going after the Assad regime and they're not all that hip on countering anything that would help these Kurds because these Kurds, the Syrian Kurds, belong to the Syrian workers party, the Kurdish workers party, and they are connected in part to the PKK, which is a terrorist organization that the Turks have claimed have killed over 30,000 Turkish citizens.

So there is the contention there between what the national priorities are of the United States versus Turkey. And I think this is the debate that General Allen and Mr. McGuirk (ph) are going to fall right into when they get into Ankara this afternoon as they try and press Turkey to at least help the Kurds reinforce themselves and prevent this human disaster.

LEMON: And again, general, as we continue to look at these pictures right along the Turkish-Syrian border, you mentioned the civilians, and around Arwa there are other civilians who are applauding when these air strikes happen. But what about the civilians in this town where these air strikes are happening now?

HERTLING: Well, they're fighting hard. They're certainly fighting hard. And I think it's a great credit to the Kurdish culture, first of all, that they're defending themselves. But that's part of the problem, too, because Turkey sees the Kurdish culture as trying to expand their hold over territory.

I think the Turks, who are on the border, perhaps some Kurds with them, they're applauding because it's a good show. I think the military might is striking some targets. It is preventing some of the reinforcements, although there are mixed reviews on whether or not ISIL is getting more reinforcements into the fight. Other indicators from some of the Kurdish officials that I've talked to have said the air strikes are helping considerably and, you know, we're going after ISIL as a force.

We're not looking to control terrain. And I think the airstrikes, as they've been readjusted by central command, have done some damage against the Syrians -- excuse me, ISIL, who is attacking in this area.

LEMON: Arwa Damon is with us still from the Turkish-Syrian border. This is her camera you're looking at moments ago, an airstrike, as she's giving her live report. Arwa, we talked about the civilians. You talked about the civilians around you. What about the civilians there, the conversation that the general and I are having in the town where these airstrikes are happening?

DAMON: Well, the bulk of the fighting force, that is called the YPG, and that is the Kurdish fighting force and they also have that one FSA, Free Syrian Army Arab Brigade, I was talking about. When it comes to the civilian population, in and of itself, there are some civilians that are still inside. These are people who are refusing to leave, who don't want to suffer indignity, despite everything, of having to leave their homeland, who would rather die in their homeland than come across and have to live in Turkey. There are also a significant number of civilians that are up along the Syria-Turkey border.

These are people, along with their families, and we saw some of them and managed to speak with them through the border fence yesterday, who are refusing to cross into Turkey, because all that they own, they've packed into vehicles and the vehicles themselves, they are unable to drive across. And they, too, do not want to come into Turkey. We were also speaking to a number of families earlier in the day at one of the crossing points. They were carrying bags of bread, and that was for their relatives that were on the other side of the border. Those people who are on the other side of the border, inside Syria, whether it's in Kobani or pressed up against the border fence, are living in absolutely abysmal conditions. It is swelteringly hot here during the day. There are sandstorms, there are thunderstorms. They done have proper food. Many of them are just sustaining themselves on bread. Water is running

low. And then, in the city of Kobani, in and of itself, it's very difficult to get basic supplies. Prices have skyrocketed. And when it comes to the medical situation inside that town, as well, we spoke to a doctor who was telling us that he treated, on average, around 20 to 30 wounded people amongst them. Civilians, among them, Kurdish fighters. But, he said, in recent days, Turkey shutting down its border has meant that some of those more severe casualties have died because they have simply bled out, and those people that are inside trying to save them were unable to do so, Don.

LEMON: Alright, we're going to continue to follow, so stand by, General Mark Hertleng and also Arwa Damon. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: They may be decades apart in age, but the winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize are bound by shared passion for children's rights and education. Earlier this morning, a committee in Norway named Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who was shot in the head by the Taliban, one of two winners of this year's award. She becomes the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. The 17- year-old shares the honor with child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi from India, who fights child labor and slavery. Let's bring in now, CNN's Isha Sesay. A big moment for children's rights around the world, Isha.

ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah absolutely, Don. And as someone who feels very passionately about the issue of girls empowerment and children's right to education, this is a great day for girls everywhere. This is a great day for children and young people everywhere. I mean, we've seen the work Malala has done since she came into the public spotlight, most notably when she was shot in October 2012 by a Taliban gunman who basically wanted to stop her effort to get kids into school. She is a remarkable, remarkable young woman at just 17 years of age.

With so much passion and so much focus and she's joined by Kailash Satyarthi, as you pointed out, the Indian, who is 60-years-old, has been doing this for a very long time, working to get children out of factories, out of child labor, and into school. And here we have, we have an Indian, we have a Pakistani, we have a Hindu, we have a Muslim in these two people, but united in the common struggle for young people and children everywhere. And let's not forget, Don, these winners, an Indian and a Pakistani, citizens of countries that have long had territorial tensions, have fought three wars and here we have them on the same page now, on the page of the fight for children's rights and equality. Don?

LEMON: Isha, you had a chance to sit down with Malala earlier this summer in Nigeria, I believe. What did she say to you? What surprised you most about her? And really, she's really on a mission, here.

SESAY: She's really on a mission, and I think one of the things that really struck me is just how poised she is. How poised and how absolutely dedicated to this fight for young people, and in particular, to get girls into school. I was speaking to -- in Nigeria, because she had gone there to bring the world's attention back to those missing Nigerian school girls that were abducted back in April, and she was there to speak to some of the girls who managed to escape and to speak to Nigerian leaders. One of the things that really struck me as I spoke to her, is just how much she felt the pain of the families, the pain of the relatives whose children are missing. And I want you to take a listen to something she had to say to me as how she views her place in this fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALALA YOUSUFZAI, EDUCATION ACTIVIST: I'm 17. I feel I have more and more responsibility as I grow older, I can see myself more responsible and I think that I should continue my campaign for girls' education, as well as I should focus on my education because I believe that education will empower me and it will strengthen me, it will give me more and more courage. And as well as to do advocacy, to tell the leaders that they should fulfill their responsibility in selecting people, electing them, because we believe that they will listen to them.

SESAY: Don, she's in this for the long haul. She wants more education, to be more empowered, to be stronger and to use her voice to shout even louder. Don.

LEMON: Isha Sesay, thank you very much. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins right after a quick break.

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