The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday advised national Olympic committees to follow the WHO’s guidance on dealing with the Zika virus ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, asserting its confidence that the games would be safe.
Brazil has been hit hard by the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in infants, raising concerns about the outbreak’s potential impact on South America’s first Olympics in August.
The IOC sent a note to all national Olympic committees outlining the latest medical advice concerning Zika, the most recent problem for a nation already dealing with a severe economic crisis and a sprawling corruption scandal.
Photo: EPA
“All parties are taking action to address this topic and are following developments closely,” the IOC said.
The two-page note from the IOC medical commission repeated advice for travelers to take precautions against mosquito bites and for women who are planning to become pregnant to assess the potential risks of traveling to areas infected with the virus.
“The IOC remains in close contact with the WHO to ensure that we have access to the most up-to-date information and guidance from now through to Games time,” the IOC statement said. “At the same time NOCs [national Olmypic committees] should consult with their national health authorities to get advice and guidance.”
The IOC did not say the Olympics were threatened in any way and made clear it expects the Games to be secure for athletes and visitors.
“We remain confident that there will be a safe environment for a successful and enjoyable Games in Rio de Janeiro,” the statement added.
The WHO, which on Thursday declared that the Zika virus was “spreading explosively,” is to hold an emergency meeting of independent experts tomorrow to decide if the outbreak should be declared an international health emergency.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday announced a nationwide attack on the mosquito that spreads that Zika virus, vowing to “win this war” against the insect.
The mosquito has been linked by Brazilian researchers to a seemingly sudden upsurge in cases of microcephaly, in which children are born with abnormally small heads. The virus has also been linked to the paralysis-causing Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Brazilian researchers believe the strain of Zika might have entered Brazil with visitors arriving for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Mario Andrada, spokesman for Rio’s Olympic organizing committee, said there was no threat of the games being postponed or canceled because of the outbreak.
“We are not even thinking of that,” he said. “This has never been mentioned. No way. It is impossible to do that. There is no reason to do that.”
The IOC reiterated the position that, because the Olmypics is to be held during the southern hemisphere winter, the mosquito population would be smaller and the threat of the virus diminished.
The IOC cited current medical advice that all travelers should take measures to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing long pants and long sleeves, and using insect repellent.
The IOC said the WHO does not recommend any change to travel plans, but added that some national authorities have recommended, “on a precautionary basis,” that pregnant women should consider avoiding traveling to areas infected by Zika.
The IOC added that plans have already been put in place by Brazilian organizers for daily inspections of Olympic venues to remove any puddles of stagnant water, which is where mosquitoes breed.
“Rio 2016 will also continue to follow the virus protection and control measures provided by the authorities and will provide the relevant guidance to games athletes and visitors,” the statement said.
Andrada said organizers held a conference call on Friday with sponsors to explain preventive measures. He said officials had started inspecting the venues and already noticed an improvement.
“In the beginning, the first few days of inspecting, we found a lot [of stagnant water],” Andrada said. “Now it has dropped dramatically.”
The Australian Olympic Committee said this week that any pregnant team members “need to consider the risks very carefully” before deciding whether to go to Brazil.
The US Olympic Committee said it was monitoring the situation through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the IOC, the WHO and infectious disease specialists.
The European Olympic Committee said it was following events and also expects that each individual nation “will be taking strict precautions and will be advised by their own health authorities.”
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