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For the most current safety information, check the US State Department website.
H1N1 - Taking care of yourself
In order to safeguard your health while studying abroad follow these tips.
- Use hand sanitizer frequently
- Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water
- Always cover your mouth and nose if you need to cough or sneeze
- If possible get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots
If you do experience symptoms such as fever, headache, coughing, sore throat, congestions, diarrhea and/or vomiting notify the appropriate on-site staff person and stay home. Until 24 hours after your fever subsides, you should not attend class, go to work, or attend events where you will be in close proximity with others. Keep your cell phone charged, turned on, and close to you at all times.
Call the appropriate onsite staff immediately so that they can help you to consult with a doctor if you are ill with flu and develop any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion or change in level of consciousness
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Severe sore throat, accompanied by swollen glands in your neck
- Fever over 104 degrees that cannot be brought down OR fever of 101 degrees lasting for more than three days
More details on H1N1 prevention, symptoms and care can be found at http://www1.umn.edu/prepared/ahc_prepared/flu/h1n1_thebasics.html
Health insurance
Your CISI insurance policy provides excellent coverage should you need medical care. H1N1 testing, medication and other treatments are included benefits of the plan. Contact the assistance company using the details on your CISI insurance card (call collect from outside U.S. 01.240.330.1000; ID # is GLM N0483530A). Visit the client portal at http://www.culturalinsurance.com/ for policy information, to print a replacement card and more.
Program cancellations
At this time the Learning Abroad Center does not anticipate the need to cancel any programs due to H1N1 though we will continue to monitor the situation worldwide. If you independently decide to return home early due to concerns about H1N1, you will be subject to the Learning Abroad Center’s cancelation policy http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/policies/financeCancellation/cancellation.html.
Resources
· University of Minnesota: http://www1.umn.edu/prepared/ahc_prepared/flu/
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/
US Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
US State Department:http://www.state.gov/
Study Abroad in Mexico Suspension Removed
The University of Minnesota has ended its suspension of university-sponsored travel to Mexico that was put in place based on CDC recommendations during the height of the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico.
This is being done because the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention downgraded its warning against nonessential travel to Mexico because risk of severe disease from the novel H1N1 virus now appears to be less than originally thought.
While H1N1 appears to still be spreading worldwide, the illness caused by the virus is much milder than initially thought and there have been relatively few deaths.
Because of this new understanding of the virus, and the change in the CDC's advisory, it was determined that the suspension of sponsored-travel to Mexico was no longer warranted. The CDC removed its advisory against nonessential travel to Mexico on May 15 and replaced it with a health precaution encouraging travelers at high risk for complications from any form of influenza to discuss travel plans to Mexico with a health care provider.
Safety Archive
04/09: Swine Flu
04/09: Earthquakes in Italy
04/09: Current Situation in the Middle East
01/08: Avian Flu Update
01/06: Public Unrest in France
Last modified on September 23, 2009 |