The latest developments on our voyage... BUMMER.
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"Semester at Sea has been closely monitoring the current Ebola outbreak in areas of West Africa and staying in contact with the U.S. State Department, World Health Organization (WHO), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest updates on the situation. Until yesterday, confirmed cases of Ebola had been reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Liberia. On Friday, August 29, the Ministry of Health in Senegal reported the nation's first confirmed case of the deadly virus. Furthermore, the WHO has warned that the outbreak could infect more than 20,000 people before it ends. As the health and safety of our participants remains the top priority of Semester at Sea, the Fall 2014 voyage will not visit Senegal or Ghana as originally planned. Though Ghana has not reported a confirmed case of Ebola, the rapid spread of the virus and state of affairs in West Africa raises concerns about a potential future risk in Ghana, as well as our ability to easily vacate the area in a potential emergency situation. In lieu of Senegal and Ghana, the Fall 2014 will now visit two additional ports in Europe. We are currently awaiting confirmation on port availability, and will notify you on Monday to let you know which ports we will visit. Ports will be determined based on safety and security, minimal disruption to the academic program, and operational feasibility. We will also share more information on Monday to address any questions or concerns you may have about this itinerary change. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any urgent questions. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding." |


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