Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 15:50:26 -0600

Subject: SARS Information for Travelers

To:  Members of the campus community
From:  Dr. Katrina Doolittle, Director for Environmental Health & Safety

New Mexico State University is following the guidelines and 
recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) with regard to reported worldwide incidents of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

At this time, CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing classes,
meetings or other gatherings that include persons traveling to the
United States from countries where SARS has spread. Nor does CDC
recommend quarantine of persons with no symptoms arriving in the United
States from areas with SARS.

We are continuing to monitor the CDC position as this situation
develops. The CDC web site, along with those of the World Health
Organization, State Department of Health and NMSU’s Environmental Health
and Safety, appear at the close of this letter should you wish to visit
them.

I want to take this opportunity to remind members of the campus
community that an important deterrent to the spread of any disease is
the simple act of hand hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and water
several times throughout the day, particularly if you have a lot of
contact with others.

Faculty and staff considering trips to highly affected areas or
anticipating visits from colleagues in those areas can obtain SARS
information for travelers at the following link
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm

Employees with questions on workplace safety are asked to call
Environmental Health & Safety at 646-3327.

Web sites with more information:

Centers for Disease Control Guidelines for Educational Institutions:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/hostingarrivals.htm
What Everyone Should Know: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/basics.htm

World Health Organization
 http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/

U.S. Department of State travel advisories
http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

New Mexico Department of Health
http://www.health.state.nm.us/website.nsf/frames?ReadForm

NMSU Environmental Health & Safety
http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety