Update on Ebola Crisis

A letter from President Andreasen

The message below was originally sent to Andrews University staff, faculty and students by Niels-Erik Andreasen, University president.

I imagine that you have joined me in continuing to follow the significant news coverage in recent months regarding the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) crisis in three countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

There have also been Ebola cases elsewhere, including now here in the United States. All these cases are connected with individuals traveling from those three countries, or those who provided direct healthcare support to individuals with Ebola.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated that there is only a small risk for an outbreak of Ebola in the United States (apart from the potential risk for those who care for or have otherwise come into physical contact with those who have Ebola). All of us, including Andrews, still need to take thoughtful precautions to ensure the safety and health of those in our communities, both in our immediate geographic community and around the world.

Currently, we have no students who have come to us directly from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone. Also, while Andrews operates in locations around the world, there are no affiliated academic partner programs in any of the three countries affected by Ebola.

On this campus, as we seek to understand and carefully respond to this health crisis, Andrews will incorporate several safety precautions and protocols, as urged by both the WHO and CDC. We will:

• For at least the next three to six months, prohibit University-sponsored travel from or through countries with Ebola (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone), and encourage individuals connected with the University to do the same
• Follow the CDC and WHO guidelines for monitoring/movement for Ebola exposure, including the Oct. 22 update
• For any apparent direct contact with Ebola patients by members of the University community, self-monitoring and voluntary isolation separate from the main campus will be instituted for a 21-day period. As appropriate, Provost and Student Life offices should be informed if there is suspected contact by a faculty, staff, student or student family member.
• Additionally, with any reported instance of apparent contact or risk by a member of the University's community, the University will work immediately, closely and directly with the county's Public Health Department and medical officials
• Encourage our campus community to continue to practice common sense safe hygiene, especially with the approach of the flu season, including ongoing careful washing and sanitizing of hands

While there is no current significant or direct risk to Andrews University in particular, please know that we will continue to monitor any and all official information releases regarding this public health emergency, update our protocols and react accordingly.

You can follow ongoing updates and information on Ebola issues around the world at the links below:

World Health Organization (WHO)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)