Guidelines for University of Hawai‘i Programs Hosting Students/Scholars/Trainees/Visitors from SARS-Affected Areas

The University of Hawai‘i’s foremost concern is to maintain the health and safety of its academic community and the citizens of Hawai‘i while fulfilling the university’s educational mission.

To this end, UH adheres to guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH). At this time, neither agency recommends canceling or postponing classes, meetings or other gatherings that will include persons traveling to the Untied States from areas with SARS. Nor does CDC, at this time, recommend quarantine of persons arriving from areas with SARS.

Summary

1. UH will continue to accept students/trainees/scholars and visitors from SARS-affected areas.
2. Each department/unit that offers short-term programs/conferences or hosts visitors will assume responsibility for implementing the procedures outlined below
3. The UH Office of International Education will coordinating SARS information system-wide. Information will be updated regularly at www.hawaii.edu/ur/sars.
   

Procedures

1. Communicate with incoming individuals to ensure that they are aware of the SARS symptoms. Persons traveling from SARS-affected areas who have a fever or respiratory symptoms OR who have had exposure to SARS patients within 10 days prior to the scheduled departure should not travel and should seek medical evaluation. Send the UH SARS Fact Sheet, available in English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean at www.hawaii.edu/ur/sars, to all individuals arriving from SARS-affected areas.
   
2. Notify either Dr. James Marzolf or Michelle Nakata of the State Department of Health at 486-4586 if hosting groups from SARS affected areas. Inform them that you will be sending the following information: place of origin, dates of visit, names and number of participants, flight numbers, housing location and information gathered from pre-screening, if done. (See UH-DOH Information Sheet)
   
3. Notify the hotel or housing facility if hosting groups from SARS-affected.
   
4. Communicate to incoming students/scholars/trainees/visitors the requirement of having health insurance coverage during their stay at UH. Insurance plans may be purchased in the home country as long as coverage is guaranteed for major medical, medical evacuation and repatriation. Degree-seeking students and visiting scholars on UH immigration sponsorship will be assisted by the international student or scholar services offices. For all others, health insurance plans should be made available by the hosting department upon arrival, if proof of insurance is not provided by inbound travelers. Beginning fall 2003, the UH student/scholar health insurance plan contract will be with HMSA. (See other options below)
   
   
   Guidelines for University of Hawai‘i
   Programs Hosting Students/Scholars/Trainees/Visitors
   from SARS-Affected Areas
   
5. Provide the UH SARS Questionnaire to individuals coming from areas which have "YES" under the column heading "Traveller to consider postponing all but essential travel to the area," on WHO’s SARS Travel Recommendations Summary Table http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/ updated daily. Review responses; if any are affirmative, contact University Health Services at UH Manoa or other campus health services, or call an areas hospital emergency room for further guidance. You may also call 911.
   
6. Provide the UH SARS Fact Sheet, and the SARS Prevention Sheet to those coming from locations on the list above. Ensure that participants understand the SARS symptoms and instructions provided.
   
7. Encourage individuals from SARS-affected areas to self-monitor their temperature during the 10-day incubation period. Call Gwen Barros, 808 956-8965, at UHM Health Services to purchase disposable thermometers for recently arrived travelers. Individuals with an elevated temperature must know how to contact University Health Services or a hospital emergency room.
   
8. Refer to "How to Handle a Possible SARS Case" should any students/scholars/trainees/visitors exhibit SARS symptoms.
   
9. Consult the UH SARS web page www.hawaii.edu/ur/sars for updated information.
   

Some Options for Health Insurance Plans

SOS International – www.internationalsos.com/visitorusa
Club USA- www.heritage-ins.com
Gateway USA (Seabury and Smith)- Phone: (800) 282-4495; Fax: (202) 457-6877
ISIS Insurance- www.isis-travelinsurance.com