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EBOLA OUTBREAK
FEAR VS.
FACT
A
nxiety surrounding the deadly Ebola virus heightened after the first two American aid
workers infected in Liberia returned to Atlanta for treatment. And fears have run
rampant since Eric Thomas Duncan, then two of the nurses who cared for him, became
the first, second and third people diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. Statistics
on the infectious virus are plentiful in the around-the-clock news coverage. But one fact
remains buried amid the panic: four times as many Americans will die this year of seasonal flu
than all of the people killed by Ebola worldwide in this most recent outbreak.
Reality check: Flu will kill far more Americans
SUSANNE CERVENKA @SCERVENKA
How Ebola spreads
Ebola is not transmitted
through the air, but rather
is spread through bodily
fluids like blood, urine or
mucus. However Ebola
symptoms start out similar
to other viral illnesses.
It is also not spread
through food or water.
CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL
Ebola symptoms
Initial symptoms of
Ebola include fever,
headache, muscle pain,
weakness, diarrhea,
vomiting, stomach
pain. and unexplained
bleeding.
Symptoms on aver-
age appear within
eight to 10 days, but
can appear anywhere
from two to 21 days
after exposure.
See EBOLA, Page A10
INSIDE
Obama seeks SWAT team from CDC, STORY, 1B, Cable news exploiting Ebola fears, EDITORIAL, A17
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THURSDAY 10.16.14
VOLUME 135
NUMBER 248
SINCE 1879
ADVICE D7
BUSINESS A11
CLASSIFIED E1
COMICS D5
LOCAL A3
LOTTERIES A2
OBITUARIES A13
OPINION A17
PUZZLES D7
SPORTS C1
TOMS RIVER A jury on Wednesday convicted a pop-
ular Brick priest of groping a woman, but acquitted him
of molesting her two children.
After deliberating about nine hours over two days,
the panel of six men and six women announced its ver-
dict about 5 p.m. in the trial of Marukudiyil Velan, bet-
ter known to parishioners at Church of the Visitation in
Brick as Father Chris.
The jury found Velan, 66, guilty of criminal sexual
contact on the woman, among the least serious of the
charges he faced, and acquitted him of six other crimes
related to alleged molestation of the womans two chil-
dren.
Velans attorney, S. Karl Mohel, said his client is un-
likely to face prison because the offense he was con-
victed of, a fourth-degree crime, carries a presumption
of no incarceration for people who do not have any prior
criminal convictions. The crime, which carries a maxi-
mum penalty of 18 months in prison, is not a Megans
Law offense, so the priest will not be required to regis-
ter his whereabouts with police or be on parole for the
rest of his life, Mohel said.
Aconviction on the most serious charge against Ve-
lan, sexual assault of the womans daughter, who was 5
at the time of the alleged molestation, would have re-
sulted in a prison term of five to 10 years, lifetime pa-
role supervision and registration with police under
Megans Law.
The other charges Velan was acquitted of was anoth-
er fourth-degree count of criminal sexual contact on
the womans son, who was 13 years old at the time;
Jury: Priest
groped
mom, but
not kids
Father Chris Velan acquitted of
charges of molesting her children
KATHLEEN HOPKINS @KHOPKINSAPP
See PRIEST, Page A4
USA TODAY EBOLA, OIL, EUROPE WEIGH ON STOCKS PAGE 1B
TOMS RIVER Tales of corruption in Ocean County
government, including stories of clandestine visits by
FBI agents, continued to dominate the campaign trail
Wednesday in the Ocean County freeholder race.
Democratic challenger Timothy E. Ryan repeatedly
spoke of the allegations during an Asbury Park Press
editorial board debate Wednesday with longtime Repub-
lican incumbent Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari,
and the matter was raised again later at a meeting of the
Board of Freeholders.
Ryan continues to insist, and did again during the
hourlong debate with Vicari, that the freeholder direc-
tor is under investigation by the FBI. But Ryan also was
forced to concede that he has no proof beyond the allega-
tions of others. Nevertheless, Ryan said he knew in his
heart that there is a real investigation.
I think thats the major issue, Ryan said. This is not
a Democratic or Republican race this year. ... Its about
integrity and morality, and reputation. And I think that
Whos lying in
Ocean County
freeholder race?
ERIK LARSEN @ERIK_LARSEN
See RACE, Page A5
KEANSBURG
MEET
THE PRESS
Have a story to share? Meet reporter
Russ Zimmer today. See A2 for details.