Statement regarding the H1N1 influenza A
The world's television and print media have been full of news and even more speculation about the H1N1 virus during recent months. Middlebury College wants you to know that we are monitoring the situation with respect to students studying with its C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad, as well as those studying on non-Middlebury programs abroad.
The C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad on-site staff is continuously monitoring the local situation in regard to outbreaks of the H1-N1 virus. Because of the large number of public health jurisdictions among the countries in which Middlebury operates its Schools Abroad, the on-site staff, in consultation with the Vermont-based staff, will alert students about any potential health risks, the availability, and means of procuring an H1-N1 vaccine in the host city as it becomes available.
You can find out about the status of a particular C.V. Starr-Middlebury School Abroad by visiting our H1N1 Updates page. If you do not see the school you are interested in on this page, then you can assume that this program has not been affected by the virus.
In the interest of addressing some of the concerns brought up in media reports, we address several relevant issues here.
What is the H1N1 virus?
It is an influenza virus that affects people and that originated in pigs. The NAFSA website offers complete information on the influenza.
What is the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed its travel warning to Mexico. The most up-to-date information on travel warnings can be found on the CDC website.
Where is it most prevalent and serious?
The World Health organization maintains an interactive map to track confirmed cases and deaths. Largely, the virus has resulted in relatively mild symptoms in otherwise healthy people and deaths have occurred only in people with underlying poor health conditions.
Is there currently any way to protect against this disease?
No. While efforts have been underway for several months to develop an H1N1 vaccine, no vaccine has yet been developed and distributed. Current guidelines emphasize frequent hand washing and avoiding contact with infected persons. More tips can be found through CDC website.
Who determines whether or not the influenza is classified as a pandemic?
The World Health Organization has classified the H1N1 virus a pandemic, and continues to monitor it to gage its severity.
Health officials believe that the virus will likely die down during the warmer months in the Northern hemisphere, but fear that we will experience resurgence of the H1N1 virus during next winter’s flu season. In the Southern hemisphere (where it is winter at the time of this writing, in July 2009), cases are currently increasing.
What can Middlebury College do if the severity of the influenza outbreak escalates? Short of a decision to close a School Abroad and evacuate, students will have the option to take a medical withdrawal. The rules governing a medical withdrawal are outlined in the General Handbook. In such cases, students will not receive any credit and will forfeit their tuition, unless they have taken out tuition insurance, in which case they can apply to the insurance provider. However, their transcript will contain no indication either of their enrollment or their withdrawal from the program.
Students enrolled in non-Middlebury programs or other universities abroad will want to consult with their host institution and/or providers regarding their emergency procedures, as well as their withdrawal policy should the student choose to leave the program/university early.