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August 22, 2014 - 9:59 am

Updated Important Travel Warning Information: Outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria

There have been recent outbreaks of communicable diseases in other parts of the world including Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria as well as increased cases of a new and serious respiratory virus known as MERS or Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome.  Persons returning from an affected area should monitor their health and if feeling sick contact their health provider.  Students, Fellows and Scholars should contact Campus Health at (919)966-2281 and ask to speak with a Registered Nurse.  http://campushealth.unc.edu/general-info/contact-us.  Employees should contact the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic (UEOHC)  919-966-9119 http://ehs.unc.edu/ueohc/. Regardless, any traveler who becomes ill, even if only a fever, should consult a health-care provider immediately and tell him or her about their recent travel and potential contacts.

UNC has a very important policy guiding all travel by UNC students, staff and faculty. See more at http://provost.unc.edu/files/2012/10/UNC-Travel-Policy-10.18.2010.pdf, or go to http://global.unc.edu/travel-info.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Level 3 Travel Warning advising against nonessential travel to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. In addition, the CDC is continuing its screening and education efforts on the ground to prevent sick passengers from traveling from the affected countries.

More information from Campus Health Services can be found here: http://campushealth.unc.edu/general-info/feature-stories/international-travel-alert.html

The University endeavors to balance the value of participation in international educational activities against the potential risk to its students and employees of such participation. In balancing these factors, the University relies on information from the U.S. Department of State, most particularly the Travel Warnings issued periodically by that agency, and information in the Travel Notices issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Consequently, the University has developed the policy below that governs educational and other activities in countries for which the Department of State has issued a Travel Warning and countries for which the Centers for Disease Control has issued a Travel Notice.

Ebola graphic