Although some universities are responding to the SARS outbreak by discouraging international students from attending school or isolating them once they arrive, MSU officials say they have no such plans.
"No students have been denied admission or isolated thus far," said MSU spokesman Terry Denbow.
"We have no blanket policies about this, other than screening those who are coming from or recently have been to SARS areas."
The epidemic known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, caused the University of California-Berkeley to initially turn away about 500 summer students from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The university eased its ban on Saturday, admitting 80 international students.
But Berkeley officials are isolating international students to determine if they have any SARS-like symptoms. The university also is assessing whether it has enough housing to isolate the remainder of incoming summer students.
The University of Michigan is admitting international students, but has discouraged several Chinese researchers from using its medical facilities and might discourage other international students in the future. Overall, U-M officials are evaluating situations on a case-by-case basis.
SARS is an emerging infectious disease that likely is caused by a new coronavirus, a virus known to cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. It can be spread by sneezing, coughing and through contact with contaminated surfaces.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 7,500 cases have been reported worldwide, resulting in at least 570 deaths. About 64 of these cases were reported within the United States. There have been four suspected cases in Michigan.
University Physician Beth Alexander says MSU is combating SARS by screening students, faculty and visitors entering MSU's campus from countries with a travel advisory.
She says the screening process includes finding out where the patient has traveled, whether they have respiratory symptoms and taking the patient's temperature. They are then provided information on where to go for treatment if they have or develop SARS symptoms.
"The screening has been running for about ten days," Alexander said. "We've been doing lots of planning so we can protect the community as best possible without necessarily restricting them."
Symptoms of SARS include a fever higher than 100.5 degrees, respiratory difficulty and coughing.
Alexander said between 15 and 20 people were screened and none have shown any symptoms.
Rosemary Max, MSU's assistant director for the Office of International Students and Scholars, said the university has admitted some students from SARS-infected areas.
Max added MSU has admitted 77 international students for this summer. Of those students, 10 are citizens of countries reporting SARS outbreaks.
But none of the students admitted to MSU have traveled to SARS-infected areas before coming to campus.
Probably only half of the 77 students will actually enter the United States, Max said.
Not all students admitted by MSU end up enrolling.
While university officials are doing what they can to keep the student population safe, one student might be putting himself at risk. Nick Gutschow, a 2003 philosophy graduate, is going to spend a year in Taiwan.
The CDC recently implemented a travel advisory to Taiwan, recommending against nonessential travel to the country.
"It's not like I'm going to step off the plane and get SARS within 48 hours," Gutschow said. "My mom is freaking out. She called me crying when she heard about the travel advisory."
While in Taiwan, Gutschow will be employed by the Taiwanese government and teach English at a private school.
He leaves on May 23.
There have been 207 confirmed SARS cases in Taiwan, resulting in 24 deaths - the majority were centered in China. The alerts recommend against nonessential travel to the area.
Gutschow said while he has not heard from MSU health officials, he has undergone thorough health exams including, four vaccinations, eight separate blood checks, x-rays and drug tests at a Grand Rapids hospital.
Gutschow was required to get the checkups by the Taiwanese government before he could begin working.
None of the tests detect the SARS virus.
MSU recently canceled four summer study abroad programs in Asia while one was diverted to Scandinavia. More than 100 students were affected by the changes.
U-M quickly followed, canceling summer programs headed to China, Beijing and Hong Kong.
The decision to cancel the summer programs was based on the CDC and advisory warning system, said Nancy Connell, director of the U-M News Service.
She added U-M's SARS committee, composed of U-M health officials and academic officials, recommended the postponement of the overseas programs.
Connell said although there is no university policy to deny admission to students from SARS-infected countries, new developments might change that.
"The way conditions are right now, the university has not done that," she said. "But it's impossible to predict what will happen."
While the dangers of SARS are being felt worldwide, Gutschow's love for Asian heritage supersede his fears of the disease.
"I have a passion for Chinese culture and I really want to be fluent in Mandarin," he said. "There are several million people in Taiwan and only slightly over 100 people have SARS. It's a drop in the bucket when you look at it like that."
