Egypt Study-Tour for Alumni and Friends

Attention Alumni and Friends of Berea College!
Imagine: sailing down the Nile; seeing the pyramids; interacting with friendly Egyptians; exploring the streets, sounds, and smells of Cairo; visiting a 9th-century mosque; climbing a minaret within the old city’s walls; strolling through the bustling grand bazaar; watching the sunrise over the Red Sea; learning more about Islam and the everyday life of Muslims in Egypt; riding camels with Bedouin in the desert; hiking to the top of Mt. Sinai; helping with a service project in Cairo's "Garbage City" eating excellent Middle Eastern food and drinking fresh mango juice!

If you are up for this kind of adventure, please consider applying to be one of the few alumni and friends of Berea College who will be able to join a Berea College International Short Term Course in Egypt this summer. The trip will be led by two Berea College professors, Dr. Richard Cahill and Dr. Chad Berry; Nashwa Cahill, a native of Egypt, will provide linguistic, cultural, and logistical support. Twenty Berea College students will participate, as well as up to ten alumni and friends of the College.

The study-tour will last for 21 days, from approximately May 29 through June 20, 2010. The itinerary includes nine nights in Cairo and environs, four nights in Upper Egypt (which includes sailing down the Nile), three nights on the spectacular coast of the Red Sea, two nights in the Sinai, and then a final three nights in Cairo. The week before departure (May 24-28), students enrolled in this study-tour will take classes on Berea College's campus. Friends and alumni are welcome to attend these classes; however, this is not a requirement.

Friends and alumni will participate in the study-tour as if they were students. They will have the same schedule, readings, briefings, interactive assignments, accommodations, and transportation. All those going on the study-tour should be in good physical condition, as parts of the trip will be physically demanding (hiking, climbing stairs, riding camels), and the weather will be very hot (approx. 95 to 115 °F).

The total cost for the study-tour, including airfare, all meals, transportation, accommodations, entrances, and guiding will be approximately $4500. A portion of this amount will help make the study-tour more affordable for the Berea College students who will be participating.

New Policy for Funding International Travel for Students

The August President's Report announced the following change to the policy for funding international travel for Berea students:

Berea College enjoys its ability to provide some support for its students who study or serve in international locations. Our current economic situation requires that we put in place new guidelines for funding international experiences. The following policy is in effect beginning September 1, 2009.
The College permits the use of funds for student international travel to support one  trip of any kind (credit or noncredit) per student during the student's years at the College. Proposals for travel will be evaluated in a competitive process and will be subject to available funds. No funding will be provided for independent studies, team-initiated studies, or internships in international settings. No institutional funding or fundraising will be provided for performance groups, even though associated with a Short Term class, beyond that available through restricted endowed accounts held by academic departments. 

Each student who plans to travel internationally as a student of Berea College (regardless of the type of international travel experience) must complete the "International Travel Form," which students can obtain from the Center for International Education.

Approved by the Administrative Committee June 3, 2009

CDC Revised Recommendations about Staying Away from Others

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed its previous recommendation about the length of time that persons with flu-like symptoms should stay away from others. CDC now recommends staying at home for at least 24 hours after a fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication.
»Read more

Novel H1N1 Flu: Global Situation

The CDC has posted a new outbreak notice entitled Novel H1N1 Flu: Global Situation, which replaces previous notices regarding novel H1N1 flu in Mexico and the United States.

WHO Raises Influenza Pandemic Alert to Phase 6

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its Influenza Pandemic Alert to Phase 6, indicating that a global H1N1 (swine) flu pandemic exists.

Read WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan's statement to the press.

Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine) Travel Health Precautions

NOTE: This information is also available as a downloadable PDF, or you can pick up a printed copy at the Center for International Education.

Before You Travel

Be sure you are up to date with all vaccinations, pack a travel health kit (see sidebar), familiarize yourself with the healthcare resources in the area(s) you will be visiting, and ensure that you have adequate health insurance abroad (education abroad participants are covered by the Berea College Student Accident and Health Insurance Program and have additional coverage through the International Student Identity Card).

While Abroad

Monitor the local situation and follow local public health guidelines while continuing to practice healthy habits to stop the spread of novel H1N1 flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water; cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and avoid contact with sick people.

After You Return

Closely monitor your health for 7 days. If symptoms of novel H1N1 flu appear, avoid close contact with others, unless you develop severe symptoms or are at high risk for complications. (See Information for Airline Passengers Exposed to Novel H1N1 Flu for further guidance from CDC.)

If You Develop Symptoms of H1N1 Flu

If you develop H1N1 flu symptoms before, during, or after your trip, delay your travel and notify both the Center for International Education (cie[at]berea.edu) and College Health Service (healthservice[at]berea.edu) immediately. Do not return to campus while you have flu symptoms.

If your symptoms are severe or you are at high risk for complications (see sidebar), contact a healthcare provider to ascertain if novel H1N1 flu testing or treatment is needed. While abroad, a US consular officer can assist in locating medical services.

If your symptoms are mild, stay at home (or wherever you are residing) for 7 days after your symptoms begin and avoid close contact with other people. The CDC expects that most people should recover without medical care.

Travel Health Kit

A Travel Health Kit includes basic first aid items, as well as personal prescription medications in original containers (be sure to take copies of your prescriptions), over-the-counter medication for pain and fever, cough suppressant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and other items (for a complete list, refer to Pack Smart).

What does high risk mean?

People with chronic or long-term health problems (e.g., diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, etc.), as well as those with weakened immune systems, are at high risk of flu complications.
Women who are pregnant are also at high risk.

Related Links

• Berea College H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information
• Information for Airline Passengers Exposed to Novel H1N1 Flu
• Travel Health Precaution (Mexico)
• What To Do If You Get Flu-like Symptoms
• CDC H1N1 Information
• WHO Influenza A (H1N1) Information

CDC Travel Health Precaution for Mexico

CDC's Travel Health Warning recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico, in effect since April 27, 2009, has now been downgraded to a Travel Health Precaution for Mexico. CDC has been monitoring the ongoing outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in Mexico and, with the assistance of the Mexican authorities, has obtained a more complete picture of the outbreak. There is evidence that the Mexican outbreak is slowing down in many cities though not all. In addition, the United States and other countries are now seeing increasing numbers of cases not associated with travel to Mexico. Finally, the risk of severe disease from novel H1N1 virus infection now appears to be less than originally thought.

The full text of the CDC Travel Health Precaution for Mexico is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC Alert: Possible International Travel Delays Due to H1N1 Screening

Today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the following alert about travel delays due to H1N1 screening:

Due to the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Many countries, including Japan and China, are screening arriving passengers for illness due to novel H1N1 flu. These health screenings are being used to prevent the spread of novel H1N1 flu. 

If you are sick with symptoms of influenza-like illness you should not travel.  These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. 

Travelers should be aware that since the novel H1N1 flu outbreak is occurring in the United States, flights from the United States arriving in other countries may be specifically targeted for screening. United States travelers may be checked for fever and other symptoms of novel H1N1 flu and their travel may be delayed.

The full text of this Travel Alert is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Travel Alert: Mexico H1N1 Influenza Update

On 8 May, the US Department of State issued an updated Travel Alert for Mexico:

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of 2009-H1N1 influenza. On April 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Although conditions in Mexico appear to be improving, that notice remains in effect. The CDC's notice also suggests precautions that travelers and U.S. citizens resident in Mexico can take to reduce their risk of infection while in Mexico, provides recommendations for those who must travel to an area where cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza have been reported, and recommends measures travelers should take following their return from an area that has reported cases of 2009-H1N1 influenza.

The full text of this Travel Alert is available from the Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Clearance for International Travel

If you are planning international travel this summer, please note the following:

• Domestic students who have been approved to study abroad in all countries other than Mexico now have clearance to travel there, but said clearance could be rescinded at any time if changing conditions warrant (i.e., if an H1N1 flu outbreak occurs and/or the CDC issues a Travel Health Warning for that country).
• F-1 international students planning to return to their home country must obtain clearance from the International Student and Scholar Adviser (Kay Kelly) 7-14 days prior to departure, but said clearance could be rescinded at any time if changing conditions warrant (i.e., if an H1N1 flu outbreak occurs and/or the CDC issues a Travel Health Warning for that country).