IOC sends medical advice to Olympic committees on Zika virus

The spread of the Zika virus in Brazil has been casting a long shadow over preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but organizers remain confident the Games will go ahead as planned.

The 2016 Olympics could be hit hard after some countries warned pregnant women not to travel to Brazil and major airlines began offering refunds on tickets to the South American country in light of growing fears over the Zika virus.

Bach said the timing of the games, during Brazil’s winter, could limit difficulties caused by the virus outbreak, and he promised to have consultations with national Olympic Committees on safety guidelines by late Friday.

The International Olympic Committee has assured national sports teams competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics the city will be safe, despite the zika outbreak.

Visitors from the Northern Hemisphere will be returning to their home countries in the summer months, when mosquito populations are largest.

The World Health Organization says it is convening an emergency committee on Monday to decide if the Zika virus outbreak should be declared an worldwide health emergency.

Brazil’s Health Ministry said in November that Zika is linked to a foetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and brains.

Speaking to reporters in Switzerland, Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri said the lack of immunity to the virus and the fact the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread it can be found nearly “everywhere in the Americas” – except for Canada and Chile – “explains the speed” of its development.

“We have several bookings that are multiple generations, grandparents, parents, kids, so I can see why people are concerned”, she says.

This includes the use of mosquito bite avoidance measures, advice from local health authorities, additional precautions for pregnant women or individuals planning to become pregnant.

Pietro Rafael, who has microcephaly, at an evaluation session in Recife, Brazil.

The IOC said the World Health Organization does not recommend any change to travel plans, but noted that some national authorities have recommended “on a precautionary basis” that pregnant women should consider avoiding travelling to areas infected by Zika.

The IOC made the $2m emergency fund available in September 2015 to National Olympic Committees organising programmes to help refugees worldwide.

He added that teams were reviewing Olympic venues daily to eliminate problems like stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.