Ebola Statement

To members of the Rutgers community:

As you are all aware, the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has generated concern throughout the United States and around the world. Although no member of the Rutgers community has become ill from this outbreak to date—and the risk of transmission remains extremely low—we are taking appropriate steps to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff throughout the university system. 

Rutgers University continues to monitor the outbreak and prepare for any potential impacts to our community. Here is the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advising colleges, universities, and students about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, including travel recommendations.

We are working in close collaboration with our principal teaching hospitals, University Hospital in Newark and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, two of the three designated Ebola treatment centers in New Jersey. We are also in regular contact with the New Jersey Department of Health. 

There are serious risks and complications involved in traveling to the areas most impacted by the Ebola crisis, which currently include the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Mali. The Ebola outbreak has created a severe strain on local healthcare systems and in some of the affected regions public safety and security have been compromised. Medical treatment or emergency evacuation from these areas may not be available to travelers. The CDC recommends avoiding any non-essential travel and that all education-related travel to these areas be postponed at this time. 

For these reasons, we have developed a policy to address travel to and visits from Ebola-affected regions with respect to students, faculty, staff, and other employees of Rutgers. The policy is consistent with current guidelines developed by the New Jersey Department of Health. 

Until further notice, Rutgers University will not authorize travel to Ebola affected areas for official university business. Nor will Rutgers officially host visitors who have traveled to these areas within three weeks before the date of the anticipated visit. Limited exceptions to these policies may be granted on a case-by-case basis. In addition, all students, faculty, and staff traveling from an Ebola-affected area are requested to contact their campus occupational or student health office to notify the University of recent travel history. 

Finally, it is important to keep our concerns about Ebola in the United States in perspective. Since the inception of this outbreak there have been two Ebola Virus Disease-related fatalities in the U.S. In contrast, the CDC estimates that at least 3,000 and as many as 49,000 people die each year from the flu in the U.S., depending on the severity of the disease in a given flu season.

This year, getting a flu vaccination is especially important since some of the signs and symptoms of influenza, including fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue are the same as early signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease. The more people vaccinated against influenza will mean fewer cases of flu, and less confusion between diseases. This is especially important in patients with a history of recent international travel.

Again, Rutgers University strongly encourages all of its students, faculty, staff, and other employees to receive influenza vaccination, and to do so as early in the season as possible. 

The future impact of Ebola Virus Disease on New Jersey, the region, and the country is uncertain and the situation remains fluid; consequently, updates to this policy should be expected.

Please access the Rutgers University Ebola Policy web page on a regular basis for updated information, guidance, and instructions.

We wish you all a happy, safe, and restful holiday season.

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs