Scientists recently discovered that the mosquito-driven Zika virus rapidly spreading across the Americas can be passed along through semen, and now they believe Zika may also be transmitted through oral sex and potentially kissing.
Advertisement
Charl Schwartzel and Vijay Singh have already pulled out of the Games due to concerns over the virus, with golf set to make its first appearance at the Olympics for 112 years.
The WHO boss was responding to a request by US Senator Jeanne Shaheen to evaluate the public health hazards of holding the Games in August. More than 500,000 people are expected to travel to Brazil from around the world, but that pales in comparison with the 40 million travellers travelling between America and countries where the Zika virus is circulating, according to the CDC.
Workers stand at an entrance to the Olympic Park construction site on June 8, 2015 in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Earlier this year, the virus was definitively linked to the neurological disorder, microcephaly – a condition which causes babies to be born with abnormally small brains. Zika can cause severe birth defects in babies born to infected women.
So far, at least one USA athlete, cyclist Tejay van Garderen, has officially withdrawn from the Olympics over Zika concerns.
Brazil has been hit particularly hard by the disease, and some health professionals have called for the Games to be moved or canceled. These places, though, “have higher rates than Rio of mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, dengue, chikungunya and malaria”.
Chan replied, “Given the current level of worldwide concern, I have chose to ask members of the Zika Emergency Committee to examine the risks of holding the Olympic Summer Games as now scheduled”.
Day had previously stated it would be a “massive honour” to win a gold medal for his country, but he is now keeping his options open having read about baseball star Francisco Rodriguez, who was struck down by the Zika virus in his native Venezuela and revealed he was feeling the effects of the illness for two months.
Nuzman said Zika poses “no public health risk” that would warrant calling off the games.
No one seems to be buying that, certainly not a section of public health advocates who are upping the ante.
Rory McIlroy may no longer be concerned about the Zika virus, but other top golfers are still concerned about bringing back the virus if they compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics this summer, particularly those with budding families. With Brazil considered as the Zika outbreak’s ground zero, it’s only a matter before the virus will spread in the United States and all over the world, NY Daily News reported.
Advertisement
The best way to control the Aedes mosquitoes, he said, is to dump standing water and make sure they do not have anywhere to breed, such as old tires, bird baths, clogged gutters and anywhere else that collects rainwater.
