Science counters ’emotional concerns’ about Zika in Rio

Brazil is among the countries hardest hit by the outbreak of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that generally has a mild effect but has been linked to defects in children born to women who were infected during pregnancy.

Members of the U.S. Women’s soccer team Hope Solo and Alex Morgan have both voiced their concerns over the Zika virus, while National Basketball Association star and Spain’s Pau Gasol has also mulled skipping the games entirely.

The WHO had previously rejected a call from more than 200 global doctors to change the timing or location of the Rio Games, saying shifting them would not substantially alter the risks of Zika spreading globally.

‘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.

“The WHO supports the efforts we make, and this lets us confirm with certainty that we will receive all participants and guests of the Olympics, creating conditions for their safe health”, he added. 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’.

Last week, USA cyclist Tejay van Garderen became the first athlete to pull out of consideration for the Olympics because of Zika.

Savannah Guthrie has been on-site for NBC’s coverage of the last two Olympics, but she won’t be going to Rio this summer.

Organizers say that zero cases of Zika have been reported among the 7,000 athletes, 8,000 volunteers, and 2,000 staff members that worked the 44 test events to prepare for the Games.

NBC is sending more than 2,000 employees to Brazil to cover the Olympics, which take place August 5-21.

The disease, which is spread by mosquitos, has afflicted large areas of South America and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the games will be held this summer.

But the World Health Organization has classified the risk of Zika infection in August, which is the middle of winter in Brazil, as “minimal”.