Six Tuskegee University studying abroad in Liberia have had their travel plans delayed due to the Ebola outbreak in the country, Inside Higher Ed reported.
The students' return flights were indefinitely delayed as British Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Liberia and Sierra Leone until Aug. 31 due to a deteriorating public health situation in both countries, school officials announced Tuesday.
On Wednesday, school officials said the six students are scheduled to depart from Liberia on Aug. 17 and then travel from Accra, Ghana to the United States on Aug. 18.
"We are pleased that the matter of securing our students' safe return has progressed exponentially. Despite the delayed start to their fall studies, the university is working with academic officers to ease the transition of our students into the semester, which begins Aug. 20," Brian Johnson, president of Tuskegee University, said in a statement. "We are grateful to our Liberian host for ensuring the care and safety of our students during their study abroad experience."
The university was in contact with parties at the national and international level to help expedite the study abroad students' travel arrangements.
The Ebola virus has killed at least 932 people in various countries along West Africa, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday. Saudi Arabia has recently joined the list of countries with suspected cases of the virus.
"This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.
The students are currently housed in a safe location and university officials are in contact with them daily.
There have been no signs of illness reported amongst the students.
