<p>Do any of you have a student who wants to study abroad next semester? If so, are you concerned about Ebola? I am quite concerned for my child. Ebola is spreading fast. We don’t even know what conditions will be like in two weeks, let alone three months from now.</p>
<p>My son is currently studying in Paris. I have the same concern and am counting down the days until he is home.</p>
<p>I might think twice about studying in Africa right now, (my son did his study abroad there) or the countries involved in the war in the middle east. Other than that, I don’t think I’d worry too much- but I do get it.<br>
I think we will contain this beast. Right now it’s scary because it seems like we have no plan because it’s all so new to us. Not to West Africans, though, unfortunately.<br>
I’d go ahead and let my kid make plans but reserve the right to pull back if conditions change radically.<br>
There’s always some threat these days, but our kids do gain a great deal by seeing other parts of the world. </p>
<p>You folks forget that there are 2 cased of Ebola in the U.S.? What makes you think your child is safer here than in France? There’s a deadly virus (EV68) that’s killing children and causing paralysis right here in the U.S. – more than 60 have died so far nationwide – yet people are all bent out of shape over Ebola. This really doesn’t make sense. </p>
<p>That said, I’ve postponed my trip to East Africa, for the time being. But have no problems going to Asia in 10 days. </p>
<p>^^ that was supposed to be 2 CASES of Ebola in the U.S. Sorry. </p>
<p>I agree with Moonchild’s perspective. My D is in Germany right now. I’m not worried about her health. There is one Ebola patient (an aid worker who was infected in Africa) being treated in isolation in a hospital in Leipzig. But so far, no one else has shown signs of infection. I don’t think it’s quite true to say that Ebola is “spreading fast” in most areas.</p>
<p>There are always issues when our kids travel. There were many Americans in Japan when it was hit hard by the tsunami and all the fallout. The kids were shipped back to the US and allowed to return when things stabilized. </p>
<p>I think one has to do what works for them and family would more inclined to buy medjet assist insurance so in case my kid was I’ll she could be transferred from the hospital there to local hospital I choose. </p>
<p>My son left for a study abroad in London a couple of weeks after the Tube bombings. To be honest, I was a little concerned…but not a lot concerned. </p>
<p>Folks are monitoring health now better than ever. </p>
<p>When my daughter was assigned to Rwanda for the Peace Corps, it gave her pause. I politely said that her life should not be governed by fear. </p>
<p>At this point, your odds of getting hit by a car far exceed your likelihood of contracting Ebola. </p>
<p>Caution…yes. Decision about what to do if you become ill, yes. </p>
<p>Unless your child is going to West Africa, I’d rest easy (er, at least about Ebola). </p>
<p>Honestly, your child is MUCH more likely to get sick from something like eating a new diet, fatigue from operating in a foreign language, or contracting something else that’s not deadly but that we’re less immune to. </p>
<p>Just remember, there are many things with less sexy names that the average person should be much more concerned about. </p>
<p>There was just a HAYRIDE accident in our state in which a 17-year-old girl died and 22 other people were injured, some severely. There are SO many more things to worry about than ebola. Cape Town, South Africa, where a lot of kids study, is almost 3,400 miles away from Liberia.</p>
<p>I will admit that the “campus in Belgium” of MiamiOH got a bit less rosy ever since Duncan arrived via Air Brussels.</p>
<p>(OT, but I’m so sorry, ML. That’s terrible!) </p>
<p>fwiw, The Miami campus is in Luxembourg. </p>
<p>D is in Italy (plans to stay for 3 years). Not worried about Ebola. Worried about her riding a Vespa.</p>
<p>D’s friend was in Peace Corps in Guinea. They were all sent home in the summer when outbreak started.</p>
<p>atomom - can’t believe I got that mixed up. thanks!</p>
<p>I had the pleasure of spending a year there, back in the day. . . :)</p>
<p>I would not be concerned at all about my kid studying abroad due to Ebola! I don’t think one is less safe in another country than the US on this matter. The odds are extremely low, unless one is in West Africa. The odds of so many other things befalling your kid here in the US or abroad are greater than getting Ebola. My kid is out of college but has recently moved to work in England for the next year or two. She’ll be all over Europe and I am not worried at all. </p>
<p>Now, if you were talking West Africa or the Middle East (the latter for different reasons), that would be of concern.</p>
<p>Sigh, my 19-year-old wants to go to Lebanon! There are all sorts of State Department travel warnings for that country. He won’t listen to me, though. I’m glad he’s 6’-1" and big, at least.</p>
<p>ML: Several years ago, my young adult daughter wanted to visit a friend who lived Beirut, Lebanon as well. We said we really did not want her to go there because of the State Dept. travel warnings, which are set up for a good reason. We could not control what she did, but she respected our wishes. She has traveled all over the world, but that one time she didn’t go through with that plan, thankfully.</p>
<p>We knew one of those hostages years ago in Lebanon. I know that isn’t reassuring!</p>