Elon University has adjusted some study abroad programs and offers advice to students who have questions or may be considering travel to areas of Africa affected by the Ebola virus. Please read this note for details.
Due to heightened international awareness of Ebola, the staff from Elon’s Office of Student Health and Wellness, Student Health Services and the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center have been closely following the developing situation in West Africa since early in the summer. Elon has no university-sponsored or affiliated programs currently in or planning to go to the countries at high risk which, as of today, include only Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. However, the university has developed resources, protocols and communication systems as a preventative measure.
Dr. Ginette Archinal, university physician and medical director of student health, has been closely monitoring the situation, following local and state health department advisories, as well as those from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Archinal also collaborates with the team at Cone Health, who are responsible for any local responses regarding a potential Ebola risk. Student Health Services, Athletic Health and the Faculty-staff Wellness Clinic at Elon are staffed by employees of Cone Health/Alamance Regional Medical Center and will follow their established protocols.
The risk of exposure to Ebola is low – transmission requires intimate contact with bodily fluids of a symptomatic infected individual. Ebola cannot be caught like the flu, strep or mono. Members of the Elon community have been advised of steps they should take in the highly unlikely event of potential exposure to the disease. Please feel free to contact Dr. Archinal at garchinal@elon.edu with any questions or concerns.
> Download a PDF of Elon’s Ebola awareness sheet
Study Abroad Programs and Ebola
With few exceptions, Fall, Winter Term and Spring study abroad programs are continuing as usual. The university has made some modifications to international student experiences out of an abundance of caution:
- Summer 2015 Programs: The Global Medical Brigades summer student service trip to Ghana was cancelled
- Winter Term 2015 Study Abroad Programs to Ghana: Performing Arts in Cultural Context has been postponed to January 2016. West African History and Culture has been modified for 2015 – the program will now be Ethiopia and Tanzania: An Exploration of History, Culture, and the Natural World in East Africa
- Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 Programs in West Africa: No Elon students are currently studying on the CIEE affiliate programs in Dakar, Senegal or Accra, Ghana. These programs are operating as usual, with minimal adjustments, and Elon students will participate in the spring program in Dakar, Senegal. Elon students are currently on the fall affiliate Semester at Sea program and will be present on the spring program. Ports in Ghana and Senegal have been removed from the itineraries for both terms.
In keeping with CDC recommendations to avoid all non-essential travel to the affected regions, no Elon-sponsored travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will be authorized. All other Elon University study abroad programs are scheduled to proceed as usual. Please feel free to contact Rhonda Waller, Director of Study Abroad, at global@elon.edu with any questions or concerns related to study abroad.