Anne Cheung, a first-year psychology student, spent spring break
in Hong Kong with her family.
Her mother wanted her there to celebrate her twentieth birthday.
Cheung wasn’t concerned about severe acute respiratory
syndrome, or SARS, until she stepped off the plane and walked onto
the streets of Hong Kong, where everyone had on a mask and fear of
the virus was rampant.
“I didn’t think it was that serious, so I insisted
to go back,” said Cheung.
She spent her time in Hong Kong with her family avoiding
theaters, karaoke bars, hospitals and all places near
hospitals.
When in a public area, Cheung wore a mask. She hopes SARS will
be contained by summertime so she can go back.
“If not, maybe I’ll stay in L.A. for a while or
travel to other places,” she said. “Nothing is planned
yet, I just hope that the whole thing is over by then.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns against
traveling to areas afflicted with SARS, including China, Hong Kong,
Vietnam, and Singapore.
SARS is a new form of deadly pneumonia that appears to be
spreading swiftly in Southeast Asia and other parts of the
world.
Approximately 2,600 international students or roughly 60 percent
of all international students enrolled at UCLA are from Asia.
One hundred and twenty-three students are from Hong Kong and 502
students are from China, according to the Office of International
Students and Scholars.
UCLA has not given any official statement about travel to these
areas except to students in the Educational Abroad Program.
OISS plans on sending an e-mail to all international students by
Friday concerning SARS.
“Our records show that students don’t travel outside
of the country during Spring Break,” said Director Lawrence
Gower.
Thus, the office has concentrated its efforts on summer travel,
when many international students are expected to go home.
OISS has recently updated its Web site with information from the
Department of State concerning SARS and any other travel
advisories. OISS is also advising students to not travel to these
areas unless they have to.
“It’s not a crisis situation at this point,”
said Gower.
Individual counselors are available to students and they are
asking students not to panic, instead advising students to be aware
of the information available to them.
The Arthur Ashe Center, meanwhile, has a protocol in place in
case SARS becomes a problem here.
Beginning spring break, the Ashe Center placed questionnaire
sheets for students who suspect they have SARS.
If students answer “yes” to having a cough or fever
and to have visited or come into contact with anyone who has
traveled to suspected SARS areas, they are asked to put on a mask
as a safety precaution.
“Some students have been concerned because they had a
cough, but there has been no suspected case,” said certified
nurse practitioner Evi Desser.
Still, many are nervous and feel that the school has done
little.
“I know that the people from Hong Kong here are really
concerned. The school basically didn’t do anything. People
should at least be aware of it,” said Cheung.
Cheung’s sister is a high school student in London at
Cheltenham Ladies’ College and was isolated for nine days
after returning from Hong Kong.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to wear a mask
here, but students should be aware of its seriousness,” said
Cheung.
There are 2,733 reported cases of SARS in the world with 106
deaths according to the World Health Organization as of April
9.