Students should also refer to region-specific health and safety information in the ISEP Country Handbooks and at the US State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov. 

There are a number of precautions you can take while abroad to ensure that you stay healthy.  Here are some basic pointers:

• Monitor your health. Do not run yourself into the ground trying to see everything and to sample all the culinary delights. Moderation will pay off in the long run.
  
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
  
  Note to vegetarians


You may find that maintaining a vegetarian diet abroad can be a challenge since many countries use meat as a staple of their cuisine. It may be difficult to obtain enough quality fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy diet, and meal plans may or may not include vegetarian offerings. Some tips to help you through:
• Be sure to note the fact that you are a vegetarian or specify any dietary restrictions on your ISEP Student Self-Assessment Medical Form. The information you provide will guide ISEP and your host coordinator in making appropriate arrangements for you.
  
• Research the cuisine and foods offered in your host country.
  
• You may wish to bring protein powder, vitamins, and other dietary supplements with you to ensure good nutrition while abroad.
  
• Talk to other vegetarians who have studied abroad.
  
• During orientation check with your host ISEP coordinator regarding resources or suggestions to help you maintain your diet.
  
• Finally, you may need to find a tactful way to deal with social situations in which you are offered specially prepared meals that include meat.
• Watch what you eat when traveling. If you are traveling to countries other than your host country where there might be issues with the safety of water, fresh fruit and vegetables, etc., check guidebooks before you go.
  
• Take measures to reduce the risk of exposure to STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Intimate contact could expose you to different bacteria or viruses that could lead to infection or contraction of STDs, including AIDS and Hepatitis B.
• Know where to get treatment. When you settle in, find out where health care facilities are located and check with On Call International or ask your embassy or the ISEP coordinator for the name of a doctor before the need for medical treatment arises.

Important!

Please read the Additional Health Information for participants going to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It provides in-depth information on the health issues briefly described on this page.

Avian Influenza is a worldwide concern. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Department of State have NOT issued any travel warnings with regard to the Avian Flu. All ISEP programs are proceeding normally and ISEP Central staff is monitoring the situation throughout the world daily. ISEP urges students and their families to use the resources provided here and elsewhere to make informed decisions about studying abroad or to decide what to do if the Avian Flu should develop while a student is overseas.

Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
The CDC is a major component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is the principal agency in the U.S. government for protecting health and safety in America. This website provides background information on avian flu, recent outbreaks, transmission in animals/infection in humans, and prevention.

CDC recommendations for travelers
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_influenza_se_asia_2005.htm

World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
The WHO is the United Nations specialized agency for health. This website includes the most recent information on avian flu outbreaks around the world.

WHO recommendations for travelers
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/travel2005_11_3/en/ index.html

U.S. Department of State: Avian Flu Fact Sheet (includes travel advice)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html

Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

PandemicFlu.gov
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
Description: The official U.S. government website for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza.

NAFSA: The Association of International Educators
www.nafsa.org
This site provides useful links to additional information about the Avian Flu.

Links to ISEP member institutions with Avian Flu resources:

Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Committee on Health Promotion and Protection
  http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/health_promote_protect/avian_flu_alert.html
• Contingency Plan for Preparation of Avian Influenza in
  University Hostel Confinement
  http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/health_promote_protect/contingency_plan_hostel.pdf
  

US universities

• Generic Avian Flu Preparedness Plan (PDF)
• Winston-Salem State University Levels of Preparedness for a Pandemic (PDF)