Missouri University of Science and Technology officials continue to inform the campus community of precautions regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and to monitor related developments in the United States.

No Missouri S&T students are from the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where the Ebola outbreak is widespread. As a precautionary measure, however, Missouri S&T student health services staff have conducted Ebola screenings for Missouri S&T students from other African nations since international students began arriving on campus in August. No Missouri S&T student has tested positive for the disease and all who were screened have also been provided with information on the signs and symptoms of Ebola.

Since August, Missouri S&T officials have also notified students, faculty and staff about the symptoms of Ebola, how the disease is transmitted, risk factors and what to do if symptoms of Ebola develop, as well as information on travel precautions to affected areas. Last July, members of Missouri S&T’s student health services staff and health education took part in a joint planning conference with members of Phelps County Regional Medical Center, the Phelps County Health Department and other health organizations to develop plans for communicating safety precautions to the campus.

Student health services staff continue to work with staff from Missouri S&T’s international affairs office and student affairs offices to educate students about travel restrictions.

Precautions issued by Missouri S&T officials to the campus community include:

• An Ebola fact sheet for students, which was posted in August on the student health services website and shared with students through the university’s official electronic newsletters.
• A similar fact sheet for faculty and staff, which also was posted in August on the student health services website and shared through the university’s faculty and staff newsletter, the eConnection.
• Travel advisories, which were distributed to students, faculty and staff through the e-newsletters and through other communications within departments.

In addition, student health services staff have received training on Ebola screening procedures, patient handling, isolation and in-house protective equipment.

Missouri S&T’s Ebola fact sheets are available on the university’s student health services website. Additional information about travel restrictions is available on the U.S. State Department website. Additional information about the disease and guidance for colleges and universities is available on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Missouri S&T officials continue to monitor the Ebola outbreak and update the campus community as situations warrant.