Apr 28, 2009 10:58 pm US/Central
Schools Cancel Mexico Study Abroad Over Swine Flu
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
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Passengers check in at a deserted Mexicana Airlines counter for a flight to Mexico at Los Angeles International Airport on April 28, 2009.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
The University of Minnesota is asking its students studying in Mexico to leave the country, and canceling upcoming study abroad trips, in response to concern over swine flu.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and U.S. State Department issued a travel alert advising against nonessential travel to Mexico. There are currently 21 university students in Mexico on formal study abroad programs, and the school wants them to return to the United States immediately.
Additionally, 52 university students were scheduled to depart for academic programs in Mexico in late May. Those programs have been cancelled.
Several University of Wisconsin campuses have also canceled or postponed summer study programs to Mexico as the government warned people against nonessential travel to that nation because of its swine flu outbreak.
Karl Markgraf is director of the Center for International Education at UW-Eau Claire. He says the school canceled its Mexico program today, after warnings by the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
The six-week program involving 23 students was to start May 26. Instead, staff is working on a comparable program to Costa Rica. Markgraf also says five UW-Eau Claire students studying in Mexico are healthy and have been given the option of returning early, but none has so far.
Here's a rundown on other UW campus programs.
--At UW-Green Bay, officials say a two-week study tour by education students who were to observe schools in Mexico at the end of May has been postponed indefinitely. UW-Green Bay has two students now in Mexico.
--At UW-Oshkosh, a four-week program to Mexico starting May 24 is being moved back to July 5. The school has recommended the two students there currently return, but it's not required.
--One student at UW-Stout is studying in Mexico and apparently is fine. School spokesman Doug Mell says two UW-Stout students who planned to study in Mexico this summer have decided to study elsewhere or cancel plans.
--The sole student in Mexico through a current study abroad program at UW-Platteville returned because of the outbreak and is OK.
--UW-Madison is still considering what to do with its five programs scheduled to go to Mexico this summer with 36 students. One student who was in Mexico has gone to Texas.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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