Zika Virus Threatens Rio Olympics

[Deleted member 40371]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/d3169dcc218c5352cbffb1faeed519ab

THE IOC will issue an advisory note this week following the outbreak of the Zika virus which is spreading rapidly across South America just six months before the Rio Games get underway in August.

IOC President Thomas Bach says guidelines will be sent to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) “today or tomorrow at the latest” as Rio prepares to host the world’s biggest sporting event and the first Olympics on South American soil.

WHO is expecting up to 4 million people could be infected by this virus transmitted through mosquitos.
Zika virus explained: What is it, where is it, and how does it spread?

The most worrying part is here

Does it cause birth defects?
There is a lot of concern about a potential link between pregnant women getting the virus and their babies being born with unusually small heads - a condition called microcephaly.

"While the evidence is still not conclusive, there is little doubt that the number of young children born with microcephaly has substantially increased in countries such as Brazil where over the last year Zika has spread widely," says population and health expert Peter Curson.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Olympic committee would back any athletes skipping the Olympics due to concerns over the Virus

 

[DDNatalia]

This Zika virus situation sounds like a lot could change over a brief period of time, so to put out a statement at this point over skipping the Olympics seems a bit premature. Hopefully at any rate.