Is the growing concern about the possible spread of the Zika virus enough reason to justify the deferment or relocation of the Rio Olympic games? They said that organising the Olympic games in Brazil would pose an unnecessary risk when five lac tourists from all countries would attend the games, and might acquire the strain and return home to places where Zika Virus can become endemic, reported TOI.
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Friday’s letter cited recent scientific evidence that the Zika virus causes severe birth defects, most notably babies born with abnormally small heads.
Due to the large number of unknowns surrounding the Zika virus and the fact that Rio has the second highest number of Zika cases in the country the letter’s signatories argue that it is unethical to host the Games in the city.
Brazilian authorities on Saturday also said the Games would proceed as planned, with the health ministry saying it would continue to follow the guidance of the WHO, which has deemed the risk of Zika infection in August-the middle of winter in Brazil-to be “minimal”. How about those people living there?
The outbreak began in Brazil a year ago, but now more than 60 countries and territories have continuing transmission.
“Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the global spread of Zika virus”, a statement released Saturday reads.
Health workers get ready to spray insecticide to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus in January, under the bleachers of the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, which will be used for the Archery competition in the 2016 summer games.
“I know that the Olympic Games is a big deal…” On one side, the United Nations through its health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), is still maintaining its position that there is no need for such drastic measures, as per Business Insider.
It said the world body may not be properly considering the options, which include moving the Games to a place where Zika is not present, postponing them until Zika is under control, or cancelling them.
Attaran recently published a commentary for the Harvard Public Health Review and spoke with All Things Considered about his controversial position.
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However, the scientists and the Doctors also said that World Health Organization might not change the venue of Rio Olympic from Brazil as the International Olympic Council (IOC) and the World Health Organization has a mutual interest in the Olympic games.
