IOC Statement on Zika Virus

The WHO warned that Zika was spreading “explosively” and said its estimate of cases covered all infections, including those of people who might not report, or experience, clinical symptoms. He said administration officials do not believe there are major ways of spreading the virus “other than by mosquito bites”.

Bach praised progress in Brazil’s Olympic preparations despite the country’s serious financial downturn and outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

The concern centers around the possible link between pregnant mothers infected with the virus and a birth defect that affects brain development in newborns. That connection has still not been proved. So far this hasn’t impacted people’s plans to come to the Olympics, say Brazilian travel experts (via Reuters). Clashes have broken out over evictions to make way for Olympic projects.

Athletes who have already been identified include a Syrian swimmer who is training in Germany, a Congolese judoka in Brazil, and an Iranian taekwondo athlete in Belgium, announced the IOC.

The mosquito that transmits the Zika virus is not normally found in New Zealand, according to the Ministry of Health.

“The Olympic games will take place during the Brazilian winter so at that time we will have different climate conditions than there are now, when we are in the middle of the Brazilian summer”, he said.

The IOC also announced that a “team” of refugees will follow the Olympic flag during the opening ceremonies August 21 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Earlier this week, United States health officials advised pregnant women against travelling to Brazil and other nearby countries.

“The IOC remains in close contact with the WHO (World Health Organisation) to ensure that we have access to the most up-to-date information and guidance, from now through to Games time”, the IOC’s medical commission said.

“The government is also doing daily inspections of Olympic facilities here”. Athletes from the new nations of East Timor in 2000 and South Sudan in 2012 competed under the flag because their formal Olympic committees had not yet been formed.

“The risk is no joke, so we will maintain this inspection programme until the end of the Paralympics”, Andrada said, referring to the multisport event that will be held in September, after the Olympics.