'This Week' Transcript: Ebola in America
October 19, 2014 — -- Below is the rush transcript of "This Week" on October 19th, 2014. It may contain errors.
ANNOUNCER: ABC's This Week, this morning, Ebola in America: the two nurses still in treatment, how did they get sick? Who else is at risk? And why were so many mistakes made?
The travel ban on Ebola countries: is the White House about to reverse course?
Plus, new warnings from the Ebola hot zone. This morning, we're separating the facts from the fears.
Countdown to the mid-terms, 16 days to go. Ebola scare shaking up the race for Senate control. Who is ahead now?
And our brand new poll on 2016, the surprising name at the head of the pack.
And the Francis effect: the storm brewing over the pope's latest call for change in the church.
From ABC News, This Week with George Stephanopoulos begins now.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: With so much anxiety generated by Ebola, we're going to address the scare from all angles this morning. Reports from Africa, Dallas, Washington. And Dr. Richard Besser here in New York to help everyone understand what we should be worrying about overseas and why we shouldn't panic here at home.
We begin in Dallas, the only American city where Ebola has been contracted. ABC's Tom Llamas is there. Good morning, Tom.
TOM LLAMAS, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: George, residents of Dallas woke up this morning to find a mea culpa letter in their local papers, it comes from the CEO of Texas Health Presbyterian where he acknowledges the hospital did make mistakes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LLAMAS: The mea culpa letter comes as a lab technician who handled Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan's blood sample returned to Texas on this cruise liner this morning. Earlier, that technician who has been quarantined in her cabin had her own blood sample transferred at sea to conduct tests for Ebola before the ship docked.
Watch as a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the deck of the Carnival Magic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The chopper was circling the ship. It never landed. It dropped off its supplies for the blood sample, came back about 30 minutes later and got the sample, and it was successful.
LLAMAS: The air and sea pickup and delivery comes after both Mexico and Belize refused to let that lab technician disembark in their countries. Experts say she was always very low risk.
In his weekly address the president took on the Ebola scares.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a serious disease, but we can't give in to hysteria or fear, because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need.
LLAMAS: In Ohio, though, health officials aren't taking any chances. They're not requiring more than 100 people to self-monitor themselves. This after nurse Amber Vinson flew to Cleveland for wedding planning just days before being diagnosed with Ebola.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anyone who could possibly have come in contact are going to be contacted and judged on the basis of the risk that they may pose.
LLAMAS: Meanwhile, the first 48 people who came into contact with Thomas Eric Duncan will be cleared from monitoring tonight, including his fiancee. So far, none are showing symptoms.
And from the hospital where he died, in addition to that mea culpa letter, officials have also begun releasing videos like this one.
AMY MCCARTHY (ph), HOSPITAL WORKER: My name is Amy McCarthy and I'm Presby proud.
LLAMAS: Trying to win their reputation back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
