KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Fears over the spread of the respiratory illness Novel Coronavirus has prompted Western Michigan University to halt all school-sponsored travel to China.
That decision was announced in a statement made by the university on Friday, January 31st. WMU now says that the school will not approve of any business travel to China, and is discouraging students and faculty from making trips to the country for personal reasons as well. The university is also saying that it will not reimburse personal expenses for any future trips.
The U.S. State department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously issued blanket travel warnings last week and on Monday, advising caution for China-bound travelers as that country takes drastic efforts to contain the outbreak.
According to the World Health Organization, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. In extreme cases the virus can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and even death.
The rapid spread of the disease is reminding many health officials of SARS, another strain of coronavirus that posed international risks in the early 2000’s. While that strain was eventually contained, governments and health officials are scrambling to prevent the 2019 strain’s transmission across borders in a more interconnected world.
Since exploding in December, 20,400 people have been sickened by the new strain of Coronavirus in China, leaving 425 people dead so far. The Chinese government has taken steps to curtail travel within the country itself, placing curfews and travel restrictions, particularly in the centrally located city of Wuhan where officials believe the outbreak began during the lunar new year’s holiday.
In response to the recent rise of international cases, including 11 in the United States, the state department issued a level 4 “do not travel” advisory urging those on american soil to only make the journey if absolutely necessary.
As of now no individuals are suspected of carrying the virus in Michigan, but the CDC has taken steps requiring the quarantine of those who travel from China up to 14 days, including active monitoring from health officials.
In response to concerns, The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has activated a Community Health Emergency Coordination Center to support local responses to the outbreak.
It’s unclear when school-sponsored trips to China from Western Michigan University could resume. According to WMU’s website, their study abroad program includes 6 programs available in China.
Though it hasn’t reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., fears of the virus have interupted some activities. WMU was originally scheduled to play a women’s basketball game against Miami University in Ohio on Wednesday, January 29. That game was postponed because of two possible student cases of Coronavirus at the Ohio university.
