Study Abroad Program put on hold due to SARS

By Kelly O’Neil
Staff Writer

The University has ended the study abroad program a month early for three students studying in Asia because of the SARS outbreak.

The students, who were studying at Nanjing University in China, will return on Friday, about a month early, said Dr. Pedro Martinez, assistant vice president for academic affairs. The students will be reimbursed for the portion of the trip that was cancelled and will be assisted with finishing their academic requirements in the United States.

Although there have been no reported cases of SARS in Nanjing, which is the capital of the Jiangsu Province in eastern China, the University pulled the plug on the trip as a precaution.

“The students feel comfortable, but the parents are concerned,” said Martinez. A month ago the students were asked to not attend teahouses or theaters where they would be in close contact with others. An upcoming trip for the students to Beijing was also cancelled.

The students have been asked to quarantine themselves at home once they return, monitor their temperatures, and contact their medical doctor just to be safe. Those who are exposed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) typically develop a fever greater than 100.5 ºF or respiratory symptoms (dry cough, difficulty breathing) within 10 days of exposure.

Other symptoms may include headache, body aches, and overall discomfort. SARS cases are being treated with the antiviral drug ribavirin and steroids, and most patients tend to improve.

The pneumonia-like virus can be spread by touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This can happen when someone sneezes and does not cover his or her mouth sending droplets into the atmosphere and landing on themselves, others, and nearby surfaces.

People in the United States who’ve contracted the disease have been exposed either through previous foreign travel to other countries with community transmission of SARS or close contact (household members or healthcare workers) with SARS patients, according to the CDC.

In addition to cutting short the study abroad program, the University has recommended that four international students from China and Taiwan who are studying at WPU this semester remain in the United States.

However, there are no plans to cancel a scheduled trip to Japan later this summer by students and faculty in the Humanities Department of Language and Culture

“We [the university] are in tune with state agencies and are following the travel warnings issued,” said Martinez. A few years ago it was mandated that students could no longer study abroad in Columbia because it was not safe. Now, all trips to China have been suspended.

“We will wait for clearance from the state department that the situation [in China] is rectified,” said Martinez.
Andrew Schovanec, a senior communication and film major, had planned to travel to China this summer after graduation
“I as going to teach English and study more Chinese,” he said.

He cancelled his trip due to the “state the world is in,” he said, adding that he would not feel confident going to that part of the world at this time. “Maybe in a couple years when things have cooled down a bit.”

On campus, people who come down with bad flu-like symptoms are taking precautions.

Shawn Corcoran, a junior music education major, came down with a severe bug three weeks ago. He went to the Health and Wellness Center with a suspected cold. When he didn’t feel any better he checked himself into St. Joseph’s Hospital. There the doctors took a blood test and checked it for SARS.

“I saw a million doctors,” said Corcoran.

He was immediately put on antibiotics and released four days later. His tests for SARS were negative. Corcoran contracted pneumonia from being in close proximity to other students who recently had bouts with pneumonia.

The University’s Health and Wellness Center is in contact with both county and state health departments and are receiving updates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on what symptoms to look for, according to Nancy Ellson, the nurse practitioner at the center.

There have been no reported cases of SARS at the University, she said.

Shirantha Beddage, a graduate student at WPU in jazz studies, has been living in Toronto for two years. In talking to his friends back home, they have told him that they have not seen many people wearing surgical masks on the subway.

“It’s not a big deal to them. As students they are not as affected as the government is,” said Beddage.

The SARS epidemic in Toronto is “wreaking havoc” on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues because they are all losing business. His mother works in a hospital an hour outside of the city. Every morning before she can begin work, she has to go through a screening process that includes filling out a questionnaire to check and see how she’s feeling that day, he said.

Beddage has not been back to Toronto since January but plans on returning to Canada in mid-May for the National Music Festival held in Toronto.

Some of the 10,000 high school participants have all ready dropped out because of the SARS epidemic. MusicFest Canada is an annual festival that is held in a different city every year. Beddage was scheduled to play baritone saxophone at this year’s festival but worried that the event might be canceled because of the WHO’s warning against travel to Toronto. The warning was lifted just last week.

“Yea! exclaimed Beddage at the news. “I can go home now!"

May 8 , 2003 Issue