Rio Olympics: fears grow that Games could be affected by Zika virus

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said on Thursday he will be writing to all national Olympic bodies advising on how best to confront the virus, which World Health Organization says is spreading “explosively” in the South American country – the host nation of this summer’s Games.

For travelers to both events, warnings about Zika virus, which is spread to people through mosquitoes and has been found in Brazil and more than 20 surrounding countries, are causing alarm.

The torch relay for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will include a stop at a refugee camp in the Greek capital, Athens, where a refugee will carry the torch, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced.

“The greatest thing is that I will not be a pregnant woman at the Olympics”, said Montano, who is hoping to compete in Rio. There is now no treatment or vaccine for Zika.

Female athletes are being warned about the risk of contracting the Zika virus if they attend this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Games organisers said in a statement that the Olympics, which take place from August 5-21, are during the winter months when the cooler climate significantly reduces the presence of mosquitoes.

As fears surrounding the extent of the virus grow, closer to home the Ministry of Health has extended its Pacific travel advice around Zika to include Tonga and Samoa as areas of active transmission. Using insect repellent and mosquito nets will be among the recommended steps.

Every Olympics has its share of pre-Games anxieties, but even by usual standards this Rio 2016 checklist is getting pretty lengthy.

“There is one or the other minor thing to do, and of course it is the same for other countries, and it is the same for the Brazilians”.

The International Olympic Committee is already in contact with the Brazilian authorities and the World Health Organization.

Any virus or illness can derail an athlete in Rio.

“We are employing all protective measures”, he said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says the Zika virus – suspected of being connected to microcephaly – hopefully can be kept at bay with “mosquito vector control”. There is concern that the virus – which is spreading rapidly in the region and is possibly linked to brain damage in infants – could effect both athletes and visitors.

The British Olympic Association spokesperson said they were watching the situation closely.

The Government of Canada hadn’t issued a travel advisory for Brazil specific to the Zika virus as of Thursday.