WorldStrides Updates

H1N1 Global Health Alert

As the number of H1N1 virus cases within the U.S. and abroad rose in 2009, WorldStrides Capstone programs worked proactively to keep participants safe from exposure to the serious disease and to avoid potential travel complications because of heightened security at airports around the globe. This proactive approach included timely health and safety updates to all clients and informing all participants of new travel procedures, such as temperature checks in numerous international airports, including those in Turkey, the Czech Republic, Japan, and China.

The risk management team also prepared precautionary lists of all hospitals equipped to handle H1N1 patients in the vicinities of our program hotels, and trained the company’s on-site team members, including guides, drivers, and local country managers to reinforce proper hygiene practices and remain alert to flu symptoms among travelers. All motorcoaches were equipped with a supply of hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes, and the organization encouraged students to bring travel-sized bottles of hand sanitizer with them on their programs.