SUBJECT:  Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Dear Colleagues:

The SARS epidemic has quickly become a worldwide public health concern. Although less than 200 cases have been reported in the United States, UCSD has developed plans for responding to the threat of SARS because of our strong international ties. Information about SARS and the impact on the UCSD community can be found at the web sites listed below.

SARS Information for the UCSD Community:
http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/sars

SARS: Impact on UCSD Programs:
http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/sarsimpact

As a result of the SARS epidemic, the Education Abroad Program has suspended its programs at Peking University and Beijing Normal University in Beijing and mandated the immediate return of UC students in the programs, as announced by professor John A. Marcum, Universitywide director of the Education Abroad Program (EAP). For more information on this program see the
http://www.ucop.edu/news/archives/2003/apr17art1.htm

UCSD has not formally restricted travel, however the campus recommends that faculty, staff, and students postpone travel to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Hanoi, Vietnam, unless the travel is of an urgent nature.

For more information about SARS faculty and staff should contact my office at (858) 534-3659 or sbenedict@ucsd.edu, and students should contact Student Health Services at (858) 822-1153.

                                                Steve Benedict
                                                Director
                                                Environment, Health and Safety