Milton Keynes Olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford has had his sperm frozen before competing at the Rio Olympics because of Zika virus fears.
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She also said that, as she and Rutherford hoped to have more children one day, they were keen to get a safe sample of his sperm on ice before he heads for Rio, which is at the center of the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America.
She also disclosed that the couple has made a decision to freeze Rutherford’s sperm.
His partner Susie Verrill shared the news about Rutherford in Standard Issue in a letter explaining why she and their child will not be attending the games – in part because of Zika concerns.
The virus, which is sexually transmissible, can also trigger adult-onset neurological problems such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which can cause paralysis and death.
“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”.
According to NBCNews.com, health officials for Rio 2016 say the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes-known to carry the Zika virus-will be less active during the Olympic Games due to the cooler and drier weather in the region. “We will be indoors”, performance director Brendan Purcell told British media.
Health experts have called for the postponement or relocation of the games, though the World Health Organization declared last month that that would be unjustified.
U.S. Cycling team member Tejay Van Garderen has decided not to participate in the Summer Games over fears he could pose a risk to his pregnant wife if he contracts the disease.
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Using travel statistics and contagion metrics based on dengue, an infection transmitted by the same mosquito, scientists have suggested the risk of contagion for most visitors is minimal.
