resources
Click here for information on Avian Influenza
Health and Safety
- Visit the U.S. State Department's website for up to date information on Travel and Living Abroad and to view Headlines from the Bureau of Consular Affairs before you travel and, if possible, check them during your trip for the latest information.
- Emergency Preparedness at Harvard
- Harvard University Health Services
Other governmental travel websites that you may wish to consult include:
- Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Australia's smartraveller.gov.au
- Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs
You should be aware that Harvard has a policy regarding sponsored undergraduate activities in any country for which there is a current State Department travel warning.
Health and Safety Abroad
Planning ahead and protecting your health and safety abroad are essential to a successful international experience. Safe travel involves addressing basic health concerns through appropriate inoculations and other preventive measures, required insurance coverage, and common sense safety practices.
You are responsible for informing yourself about the health and safety issues in your host country and other areas where you may travel in addition to the laws and customs surrounding personal comportment, sex, alcohol, cultural mores, and drugs in your host country. Even though you are a visitor, you will be held liable for any violations of these norms by local authorities.
A wide array of resources can help you get this important information, including the Office of International Programs, your study abroad program or host university, Harvard faculty members and regional studies centers, Harvard University Health Services and/or your primary care physician, the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. State Department, and the embassy or consulate of your host country in the U.S. See the resource links below to begin your research. Don't hesitate to ask questions or to seek guidance. Your efforts to inform yourself are essential to your wellbeing and will add greatly to the success of your experience.
Health and Safety Links
Emergency Services to U.S. Citizens Abroad
U.S. Department of State
Important Phone Numbers
Tips for Studying Abroad
Travel Tips for Students
Tips for Traveling Abroad
US Embassies & Consulates Worldwide
Center for Disease Control
Travel Health Information
Harvard University
OCS Travel Information
Before You Go, a resource guide from OCS
BSC Helpful Links
Other
University of Southern California
Center for Global Education
Study Abroad Student Handbook
Crisis Management
SAFETI (Safety Abroad First - Educational Travel Information)
Clearinghouse Project
On-Line Newsletter
