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 Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that is spreading in Brazil, can cause
crippling birth defects and developmental problems in babies.
Rutherford's partner Susie Verrill, who will not attend the Games
with their young son, said the couple had taken the precaution
because they wanted to have more children.
"The Zika news has caused no end of concern," she wrote in the
Standard Issue magazine.
"We'd love to have more children and, with research in its infancy,
I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation which could have been
prevented.
"We're not ones to worry unnecessarily, but after more than 100
medical experts stressed the Games should be moved to prevent the
disease from spreading, this was a huge factor in us choosing to
stay put."
Athletes from the British triathlon team have also been prevented
from going outdoors after dusk, because of fears of the virus.
"If you stand outside at dusk, mosquitoes will start congregating so
we are not doing that. We will be indoors," performance director
Brendan Purcell told British media.
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U.S. cyclist Tejay Van Garderen withdrew from the Games last week,
over concerns that the outbreak could present risks for his pregnant
wife.
(Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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