Stanford doctor under Ebola quarantine gives first interview

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- The Stanford surgeon who is under quarantine on the Peninsula gave his first interview Thursday. Dr. Colin Bucks spent a month treating Ebola patients in West Africa. Now he awaits the 21-day waiting period to make sure he's not contagious.

Bucks is in confinement at home, a decision by county health officials in consultation with state and federal agencies. While his family has moved out, Bucks is busy working. He talked to reporters via Skype.

"I have a very understanding family. It has also been incredibly busy, with lots of advising, lots of sharing the experience, and also continuing recruitment efforts," said Bucks.

Bucks is conducting interviews for volunteers for International Medical Corps, the non-profit that recruited him to go to Liberia to treat Ebola patients. He was there just over a month. He believes more Americans need to go there to contain Ebola.

"I don't want Ebola to come to the U.S. I don't want it in California, and the way that's going to happen is if we're striking at the heart of the beast, so to speak, so I felt it was my responsibility," said Bucks.

Bucks returned to California last Friday, but his quarantine was not made public until this week. The Stanford doctor will be allowed outside to jog or to ride his bike.

"It would be utterly safe, utterly safe, in the transmission of the illness, if I went out and went for a run, went to the park, all by myself. There's no danger to the public," said Bucks.

He sympathizes with Kaci Hickox, the Maine nurse who is challenging her quarantine.

"I am very sympathetic to her situation and her treatment. The public spotlight that she's been in, the amount of public scrutiny that she's undergone. I'm sure she had no anticipation that this was going to occur," said Bucks.

He has plans when his confinement ends.

"I'm going to hug my wife.Give her a kiss," said Bucks.

That hug and kiss will have to wait until Nov. 14, when the quarantine ends.