The World Health Organization announced updates Tuesday to its interim guidelines to prevent sexual transmission of Zika, suggesting spreading the virus this way may be more common than previously thought.
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More than 100 lead scientists wrote an open letter to the World Health Organization saying that new findings about the Zika virus will make it very “unethical” for the Summer Games to go as planned.
A pregnant woman can pass the virus along to her unborn child, and the virus could cause brain defects in newborns like microcephaly (a disease that inhibits proper head growth), and possibly Guillane-Barre syndrome (an illness that affects the immune system).
Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
So at this stage of the game, I think it’s safe to say most everyone has heard a thing or two about the Zika virus.
The IOC circular on Zika says: “Pregnant women should not travel to areas of ongoing Zika virus transmission, including Brazil”.
Meanwhile if a couple is planning a pregnancy and the male partner has symptoms of Zika virus, they are advised to practise safe sex or abstain from it completely for six months.
All of the cases are related to travel.
But, U.S. public health officials expect at least small outbreaks in areas laden with the breeds of mosquitoes that can spread the virus.
Four out of five people infected with Zika don’t develop any symptoms.
The virus is mostly carried by the Aedes mosquitoes, but there are several clear examples now of sexual transmission, NBC News reported.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see some athletes deciding not to participate in the games to avoid putting their health and the health of their families at risk”, Gasol, who plays for the Chicago Bulls, said.
The Games are scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, which has been hit particularly hard by the outbreak.
Gasol, without mentioning names, also said that he has talked to some Spanish players who have already admitted to thinking about not joining in the Olympics.
“If I had to make the choice today, I wouldn’t go (to the Olympics)”, Solo told SI.com then.
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Its statement Saturday made no direct reference to the health experts’ letter, which also highlighted the decades-long collaboration between WHO and the International Olympic Committee.
