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 The mosquito-borne virus, which is widespread in Brazil and has been
linked to birth defects, has prompted concern among athletes and
sports officials around the world as they prepare for the Aug. 5-21
Games in Rio de Janeiro.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, so combating the outbreak
is focused on eradicating mosquito populations and preventing
mosquito bites.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) head Kipchoge Keino said
the country would not "risk taking Kenyans there if this Zika virus
reaches epidemic levels", and that he was seeking reassurance from
organizers.
But NOCK played down the comments, saying the East African country
was monitoring the potential health threats and receiving regular
updates.
"It is too early to make a determination on the status of the virus
during the Games time which is six months away," said NOCK's chief
of mission for Rio, Stephen Soi.
NOCK said Keino "may have been quoted out of context".
Kenyan Sports Minister Hassan Wario said the country had not yet
decided whether to take part after meeting with health officials,
according to the Daily Nation newspaper.
Kenyan athletes include some of the best middle and long-distance
runners in the world and would likely be among the star performers
in Rio.
Zika has spread through most of the Americas, with Brazil the most
affected country. The World Health Organization declared an
international health emergency on Feb. 1 over the virus, citing
concern over a possible link with a rise in cases of microcephaly, a
birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head that can
result in developmental problems. However, a causal link has not
been proved.
China has confirmed its first case of the Zika virus in a
34-year-old man who had recently traveled to South America, the
official Xinhua news agency reported. Health authorities downplayed
the risk of the virus spreading because of the winter cold, Xinhua
added.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier, asked about travel advice for the
Olympics, especially for pregnant women, said at a briefing in
Geneva that the U.N. agency had no specific travel recommendations
now. "If you are pregnant, or wishing to get pregnant, consult with
your specific health authorities on specific country travel advice,"
he said.
The agency "is fully leaving it to national authorities to give out
travel advice to the best knowledge and evidence they have available
in the interest of their people", he said.
DECISION FOR INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES
Sports authorities are watching developments closely. In many
countries the approach appears to be keeping informed and
understanding that the decision to go to Rio will come down to
individual athletes. Still, the suggestion that athletes might
choose to skip the Games is a worry for Olympic organizers.
The Rio 2016 organizing committee’s press office declined to comment
on the concerns in Kenya, but said it stood by previous comments.
The committee does not believe the potential situation will be
sufficiently problematic for athletes to want to avoid competition.
One of the world's most famous soccer players, U.S. goalkeeper Hope
Solo, said she was concerned about traveling to Brazil for the
Olympics because of Zika. The soccer tournament has games scheduled
in places other than Rio, some of which have a high incidence of
mosquito-borne viruses.
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"If I had to make the choice today, I wouldn’t go," Solo was quoted
as saying by Sports Illustrated magazine on Monday. "Competing in
the Olympics should be a safe environment for every athlete, male
and female alike. Female athletes should not be forced to make a
decision that could sacrifice the health of a child.”
The United States Olympic Committee told U.S. sports federations in
late January that athletes and staff concerned for their health
should consider not going to the Games. The message was delivered in
a conference call involving USOC officials and leaders of U.S. sport
federations, according to two people who participated in the call.
Australia's Olympic Committee has said no athletes have indicated
they intend to withdraw, but it would "totally understand" if they
did. Similarly, New Zealand and Thailand have warned athletes and
officials of the risks and said they would respect anyone who opts
out of attending.
British Olympic Association Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe said none of
the country's athletes was reluctant to go. But British rower Andrew
Triggs Hodge said his wife Eeke would not accompany him because of
the "very real and frightening threat" posed by Zika.
The disease, which produces no symptoms in most people who are
infected and relatively mild illness in those who do show symptoms,
is mostly viewed as a threat to pregnant women or women who might
get pregnant, because of the possible link to birth defects. While
it is predominantly transmitted by mosquito, researchers are
studying the possibility of infection through blood and sexual
contact.
Brazilian officials and Olympic organizers have said that August in
Rio is drier and cooler than other times of the year, and less
hospitable for the mosquito that spreads the virus. But scientists
say even if less active than in warmer months, the mosquito, Aedes
aegypti, never actually disappears.
German sports officials have sent a brochure to teams, coaches and
medical staff containing information on the virus and basic
precautionary measures. A specialist on infections is due to brief
the German team’s medical staff in April.
Olympic Sports Confederation spokesman Michael Schirp said: "The
brochure we sent ends fittingly with the phrase that there is no
need for panic."
(Reporting by Drazen Jorgic in Nairobi, Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los
Angeles, Matt Smith in Dubai, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Daniel
Bases and Joshua Schneyer in New York, Martyn Herman in London, Paul
Prada and Jeb Blount in Rio de Janeiro, Karolos Grohmann in Berlin,
Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Pairat Temphairojana in Bangkok and
Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing; Writing by Frances Kerry and Lisa
Shumaker; Editing by Grant McCool, Bernard Orr and Nick Macfie)
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