LSA junior Geoffrey Baier had planned to study Arabic while abroad at American University in Cairo this semester. But because of the swine flu scare, the Egyptian government asked the University to cancel classes for a week — forcing Baier to pick up the language on his own.

Baier is one of approximately 80 University students studying abroad in more than 15 countries through the Office of International Programs this fall. Though not everyone has had classes suspended since the H1N1 virus broke out, students studying abroad have had to be more cautious about their health and more flexible with their schedules.

While there had been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus on American University’s campus, the school delayed the start of classes so the university could begin at the same time as other universities who have postponed classes because of the flu.

Besides the weeklong suspension, the American University is on break because of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr that started Sept. 19. Classes are set to reconvene on Oct. 3, but Baier wrote in an e-mail interview that it’s possible classes will continue to be postponed because of the flu.

“What is frustrating is the lack of new information from the university, there are rumors that our break will be extended, but nothing is confirmed,” Baier wrote.

But Baier doesn’t mind the extra free time. The last few weeks he has been traveling around Egypt — snorkeling, riding camels and climbing Mount Sinai.

In an e-mail, Baier wrote that he will continue to explore while officials figure out what to do with his study abroad program.

“I am leaving again in a half hour to go to Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast and then the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert,” he wrote. “I might still be able to fit in another trip after that, we'll see.”

Nicole LeBlanc, Office of International Programs assistant director, wrote in an e-mail interview that — with the exception of Egypt — the office has not been informed of any direct difficulties students have experienced because of worries about the H1N1 virus while studying abroad for the fall term.

“The Egyptian government has delayed the resumption of classes at the American University of Cairo following a holiday to bring that campus calendar in line with other university calendars who did experience H1N1-related suspensions,” LeBlanc wrote.

In addition to having their classes suspended, some University of Michigan students have been infected with the H1N1 virus while studying abroad.

The OIP does not know the exact number of students who have contracted the virus, because not all students were tested for the flu. LeBlanc wrote that a small number of students exhibited H1N1 symptoms during the summer, and OIP responded by directly contacting them.

“We communicate with students on an individual basis once we are aware they are ill, and try to ensure they have what they need for a safe and complete recovery,” she wrote.

LeBlanc added that OIP takes the health and safety of students studying abroad “very seriously.”

The office constantly monitors international areas through the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites. OIP also seeks advice from University medical officials.

When the H1N1 virus broke out in April, the University cancelled and suspended abroad programs in Mexico — where the virus originated. As compensation, the University offered alternate locations for students to study, in other Spanish-speaking countries like the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Spain.

LeBlanc wrote that there has been less of a concern about H1N1 since the virus emerged in the spring.

“In addition to the information shared by medical professionals at (the University), we are aware that the current status of H1N1 influenza outbreaks in most international locations is less severe now than it was in April/May of this year, or even later in the summer,” she wrote.