Jessica Ennis-Hill’s coach says the Olympic heptathlon champion is considering missing a training camp in Brazil for British athletes ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro over fears about the Zika virus.
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In a joint communique, the two affiliated organizations on Thursday acknowledged that athletes and the personnel working at the Games need more information about the risks posed by Zika – which has been linked to microcephaly in newborns – and the ways to prevent infection, reports Efe.
But for the Olympics, would anyone in their right mind send a half million people into the heart an epidemic to pick it up and return them to all corners of the world?
While some mosquitoes live through the winter as adults, the Aegypti overwinters as eggs, so that could mean few adults would be around to bite during August, says Kitron, especially if government efforts to spray repellant throughout Rio during the cooler month of July are successful.
At least 270 British athletes have so far qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics, which are scheduled to take place between 5 August and 18 September.
It has the highest number of Zika cases among other states in the South American country.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on May 12 released a statement urging competitors and visitors who are planning go to the Olympics to take precautions and follow travel rules set by the organization-making it clear that it was not suggesting the Games be postponed or cancelled.
Amir Attaran, the professor of the University of Ottawa said that Zika virus has been underestimated by Brazilian health officials.
Eminent health expert and biologist Ammir Attaran staunchly warns a global spread of Zika virus could occur during the Rio De Janeiro games.
Brazil is mired in the deepest recession since the 1930s, and it’s at the epicenter of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been proven to cause birth defects in newborn babies. Rio spokesman Mario Andrada said officials are confident the stadium will be ready for the Olympic Games. Speaking hours after the Senate voted to suspend her on Thursday, Rousseff blasted the impeachment process against her as “fraudulent” and promised to fight what she characterized as an injustice more painful than the torture she endured under a past military dictatorship. Also, 71 per cent were moderately or very concerned about the health of the Canadian Olympic team during the Games. Dr. David Hughes said in a statement Wednesday that the Zika risk to Australian athletes was “minimal”, although he noted only the link to a condition that sometimes causes Guillain-Barre syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that also causes temporary paralysis.
Picciani is Brazil’s third sports minister this year and the fifth since Rio was named to host the Olympics seven years ago. In addition, they should stay in rooms that are air-conditioned and keep windows closed, the agency said.
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This is the first time golf has returned to the Olympics since 1904.
