H1N1 ("Swine Flu") Travel Information
The Education Abroad Center is committed to the safety of our students abroad and continues to monitor the spread of the novel H1N1 virus (previously labeled "Swine Flu"). There are no plans to cancel any of the 2009 UC Davis Summer Abroad or UC Davis Quarter Abroad programs at this time. UC Davis campus staff (including faculty program directors, campus health liaisons, and senior management) continue to review the situation and consult with regional assessments made by the CDC, WHO and various UC advisory groups on a regular basis. In addition, the UC Office of the President contracts with iJet - a independent risk management consulting firm - to provide immediate risk assessment and information.
If an H1N1 outbreak or infection threat occurs in the vicinity of a program, the Education Abroad Center and/or UC may decide to change the program structure or locations. In some cases, a program closure may be the safest option. Any decision to alter a program will be made in consultation with program providers, on-site program staff and UC liaisons, UC risk management teams and US and foreign embassies and departments of state. These assessments, decisions and any required actions will be communicated immediately to students and their emergency contacts as appropriate.
As the H1N1 virus continues to spread worldwide, each country has taken a number of precautions that differ widely. In some instances, local immigration and communities have imposed quarantines on suspected H1N1 carriers. While no UC Davis student on our programs has contracted H1N1 to date, these quarantines have affected a small number of our programs and we are working with local governments to comply with their policies. At all times we strive to preserve the regular academic program and to minimize the impact of the quarantines on our students. Additionally, all participating students are covered by ACE health insurance (a UC systemwide insurance policy) and a supplemental policy through HTH, with provisions for evacuation.
For additional information about public health issues for travelers worldwide, consult the online sources below:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC web site also contains advice for health maintenance (washing hands frequently, getting medical advice should symptoms occur) and a list of six ways to avoid contracting the flu (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_003).
The World Health Organization in Switzerland
U.S. Department of State international travel alerts
For information about the UC Davis campus response to the swine flu: http://ucdavis.edu/help/swine_flu.html
On April 29, the systemwide UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) cancelled its Spring program in Mexico after the CDC issued a Travel Health Warning. Per UC policy, EAP programs are closed/suspended where the CDC or US State Department issues a Travel Warning. Following the downgrade of the Travel Warning to a Travel Advisory, EAP has reopened Mexico programs for Summer and Fall 2009. EAP programs in other countries continue to operate as scheduled. For specific information regarding EAP programs: http://eap.ucop.edu/emergency_information/current_alerts/