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WMU suspends Mexican study abroad program

April 29, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University officials continue to closely monitor swine flu outbreaks internationally and have moved to suspend a study abroad program in Mexico and bring 18 students home early from their studies in that nation.

WMU students enrolled at the University of Queretaro began arriving in the United States April 27, and the last of the 18 students will be home May 1. The University's Study Abroad Security Health Review Council moved to suspend the Queretaro program after assessing the swine flu risk to students and learning that the partner university in Mexico had closed until at least May 6. WMU's students had been in Mexico since January and were scheduled to return home in mid-June.

The Queretaro program is the only WMU study abroad program being suspended. WMU has two programs scheduled to begin in Queretaro in late June and July, and will monitor developments in Mexico in the coming weeks.

Students studying abroad in other locations and their families are advised to continue taking normal health and safety precautions and check the WMU Web site for updates.

Dr. Lisa Marshall, medical director at WMU's Sindecuse Health Center, urges members of the University community to stay informed about the outbreaks, symptoms and basic daily precautions everyone should take to avoid any strain of flu.

CDC information on swine flu
www.cdc.gov/flu/swine

CDC travel warnings and restrictions
www.cdc.gov/travel

Sindecuse Health Center recommendations
www.wmich.edu/shc/news/news.htm

WMU Study Abroad updates
www.wmich.edu/studyabroad

Related article
WMU implementing pandemic preparedness plan
WMU monitoring swine flu outbreak

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

WMU News
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