A cholera outbreak in Haiti has prompted UF to restrict undergraduate travel to the recovering country.
According to a memorandum sent out Sunday by Provost Joe Glover, the decision stems from consultation with medical personnel about the public health conditions in Haiti.
According to the World Health Organization website, cholera is an intestinal infection that can be caused by drinking contaminated water. It leads to severe diarrhea, and, as a result, severe dehydration and even death.
As of Tuesday evening, the media reported almost 300 deaths from the week-old outbreak.
UF travel for faculty and graduate students is still allowed under certain conditions.
He or she must be fully informed about the risks, receive permission from the dean of the International Center and the dean of his or her college and carry with them a personal re-hydration kit in case they come in contact with a cholera outbreak or if they contract the illness.
“Finding medical assistance in Haiti in case of illness could be problematic,” Glover wrote.
The current travel restriction to Haiti is the second imposed by the university since the Caribbean nation was devastated by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12.
A ban prohibiting university-related travel for all students went into effect in early February.
The ban was modified in July, with eased restrictions for faculty and staff and waivers for students to travel under certain conditions.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said a class of eight environmental engineering students with plans to work on a solid waste management project in Haiti has had its waivers rescinded.
Their trip is now postponed.
“Their goal is to try and make the trip once the situation improves,” she said.
