MSU Takes Precautions in Study Abroad Program Due to Coronavirus - 3/2/20

The Coronavirus continues to be an issue of concern all across the country.

The coronavirus continues to be an issue of concern all across the country..

Here in the u-s..

Six people have died from the illness..

But the coronavirus is also impacting people in other ways... mississippi state university is taking precautions with it's study abroad programs as students get set to travel to countries where it's been detected... our quentin smith speaks with university leaders about the concerns and plans.

So quentin... what are they saying... scott, msu has two people who are currently in countries where cases of the coronavirus have been reported.... they have not come in contact with the virus... but this summer more students are scheduled to study abroad in some of the countries that have been hard hit.

That has msu closely monitoring the illness to determine if future study abroad programs will be impacted..

From china.... to washington..... to mississippi state university... the coronavirus has people everywhere talking.... " we're trying to balance a healthy respect for this virus and what it could turn into and not getting into over reaction and panic."

Msu chief communications officer sid salter says the university has a faculty member in south korea and a student in italy through study abroad programs. those countries are reporting rises in coronavirus infections.

Though they haven't been diagnosed with the illness, salter says they're encouraging them to follow protocol from the centers of disease control when heading back to the u.s. " we are strongly suggesting that those that are returning from international travel in the affected area to self isolate for 14 days which has been the cdc and other health experts recommendation."

This summer more students are scheduled to to take their studies to affected countries including italy, france, japan, and south korea.

Salter says they're closely studying the potential impacts the coronavirus could have on their travels to those areas.

" we're looking at obviously academic impacts because were balancing safety between plans that students and the faculty members have made,l and how this would impact them in the long term if the study abroad opportunities are something that they need to complete their education."

So far, the university has not canceled or rescheduled any travel or classes in the programs..

" i think a lot of students and their families are concerned that programs would be canceled in panic weather than in a fact base situation.

We're not going to do that, we're going to balance any decision we make a bow study abroad with the state department says, what the cdc says, what the mississippi state department of health fairs, and will make out decisions after due diligence."

For those who are concerned about the coronavirus and want more information on it, the university has put helpful information about the illness on its website... just visit ms state dot edu... take developing story