By Jennifer Ditomasso Jacobsen
2014 Ebola Outbreak
We are aware that members of the Boston University community may have questions about the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, and the few cases reported to date in Nigeria. Several offices at BU, including Global Programs and both Student and Occupational Health Services, are monitoring the situation and the potential impact of Ebola on BU travel, both to and from West Africa.
Boston University Travelers
Boston University recommends that students, faculty and staff defer University-sponsored travel to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria until further notice. This recommendation is made in recognition of alerts and warnings provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of State in response to the Ebola outbreak.
Further, travelers to West Africa should also be aware that in the effort to contain the outbreak, several countries have imposed travel restrictions limiting or prohibiting entry of persons traveling from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. These restrictions may be expanded in coming days and weeks.
For more information on travel contact: Joe Finkhouse, Associate Director, Health, Safety and Security, Global Programs, 617-353-5401 or finkhous@bu.edu.
Students, Faculty and Staff Returning from the Affected Areas
If you have traveled recently to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Nigeria, please pay attention to your health. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the Ebola virus, though 8-10 days is the most common.
If you have traveled and become ill with flu-like symptoms (such as fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, sore throat) please consult a health care provider immediately to discuss your symptoms and recent travel, and to make arrangements to get timely care for your illness.
- Students should contact Student Health Services to arrange an appointment: 617-353-3575
- Faculty and Staff should contact the Occupational Health Center, 617-353-6630 or the Research Occupational Health Program at 617-414-ROHP (7647).
Risk to Individuals on Campus and in the Community
There have been no cases of person to person transmission of Ebola in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and other authorities stress that Ebola is not, in fact, highly contagious. It is difficult to contract, and is only spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or body. It cannot be spread (like colds or seasonal flu) through the air or through casual contact. Individuals who do not show symptoms are not contagious, including to roommates, classmates, etc.
Links
Travel Alert: Ebola Outbreak in West Africa
Boston University recommends that students, faculty and staff defer University-sponsored travel to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria until further notice. This recommendation is made in recognition of alerts and warnings provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of State, as well as limitations placed on air travel, in response to the Ebola outbreak. Updates will be provided as available. For more information, please contact Joe Finkhouse, Global Programs Associate Director for Health, Safety and Security, at finkhous@bu.edu.
Battling Ebola: Heading Into the Outbreak
Dr. Nahid Bhadelia from Boston University’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory (NEIDL) will soon head straight into the heart of the Ebola outbreak that has already killed more than 800 people in western Africa, to share her expertise on infection control and care directly for Ebola patients.
Global Connections Newsletter, Summer 2014
Stories in this issue include participation in Global Days of Service around the world, the GSDM’s Global Elective Externship program expanding into China, Venice Study Abroad students’ art show awards, BU Law and CELOP’s expanded partnership, BU’s momentum in Asia, a postcard from Baños, Ecuador, and more.
Ecuadorian Culture & Adventure
First place photo contest winner Sean Hacker Teper (CAS ’15) writes about his time with Study Abroad in Quito, Ecuador in “Postcard from… Baños.”
Points of Departure: Up the Hill
The three friends, who jokingly refer to themselves as “the Tronchies”—after the French town they lived in—say that their experience abroad has created a bond for life.
Calling all Graduate Students!
Have you studied, conducted research, or worked abroad during Fall 2012, Spring 2013, or Summer 2013? If so, we request your response to a short survey.
Frederick S. Pardee Endows New Global Studies School
The new Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, named for its largest benefactor, will focus on advancing human progress and improving the human condition.
Global Programs Activities Questionnaire
Deans, faculty and staff: Please further BU’s collective global knowledge bank by completing our 2013 Global Program Activities Questionnaire. Deadline: Friday, November 15.
Engineering a Global Education in Dresden
Photo contest winner Tru Hoang (ENG ’15) talks about his experience studying abroad on the Dresden Engineering Program.
Global Feature
Global Feature
