Summer Olympic Games in Rio May Be in Danger
With the concerns over the threat coming from Zika virus growing, more and more sports experts consider the possible danger the Games may pose to the Olympic athletes’ health. Can the virus cause the change of the location of the2016 Summer Games or lead to their complete cancellation? Judging from the current situation, the chances that this years’ Olympic Games will not take place in Rio are very low. Still, we have lately heard some really disturbing messages from the sports officials of the biggest countries-participants of the Games.
The Americans should think twice before going to Brazil?
Many media outlets, including Reuters, reported that U.S. officials have some concerns about whether American athletes should go to Brazil. Some sources even claimed that there was a conference call from the U.S. Olympic Committee officials to the heads of the biggest sports federations in the U.S back in January. The main reason for the call was the possible danger hidden in the Zika virus and the growing concerns over the possible harm to female athletes.
According to a Reuters report, USOC officials recommended the athletes who feel uncertain about the Zika virus threat consider not going to Rio this summer. On the other hand, USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky made a statement this Monday, Feb. 8, denying any recommendations from the USOC officials to skip the upcoming Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Although Sandusky denies that the USOC officials suggested American athletes may skip the Olympics in Rio if they are afraid of Zika, the organization continues to pay attention to the threat coming from the quickly spreading virus. According to a report made by Associated Press, the USOC is going to hire two experts in the infectious disease area. The Committee wants these specialists to help the American athletes who will take part in the upcoming competition in Brazil and give them some advice about the Zika virus.
British Olympic athletes are concerned over the Zika virus outbreak
After the World Health Organization declared a global public emergency due to the burgeoning Zika virus outbreak, Great Britain’s athletes got one more reason to be concerned about the upcoming competition. But, according to the British Olympic Association, no athlete from Team Great Britain suggested not to go to Brazil this summer and skip the Games because of the virus.
To make sure that there is no danger for the athletes, the BOA is working in association with the British Paralympic Association to develop a specific guidance note for the athletes. The note will include all the latest medical advice for the athletes and the staff to prevent them from getting infected. The note, in particular, focuses on the most important facts about Zika and the key strategies to prevent the virus from spreading. The mosquito bite preventionpresents as one of the key strategies for stopping the Zika virus outbreak and protecting the athletes during their time in Brazil.
Kenya is also concerned
Kenya is also on the list of the countries that are deeply concerned about the possible threat of Zika virus. Moreover, Kenyan athletes may become the first team to officially skip the Games because of the virus.
According to the latest BBC report, Team Kenya threatened to skip the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Brazil if the virus outbreak gets to the epidemic level. Kipchoge Keino, the head of the Kenya’s Olympic Committee previously said that his country is “not going to risk taking Kenyans there” if Zika virus reaches epidemic levels and the threat becomes more serious.
What is the threat behind Zika?
With six more months ahead before Rio Olympics, most athletes still hope that there will be a safe solution founded. Yet some of them, like U.S. soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo, confess that if they have to make a decision today, they will probably refuse to go to Brazil.
We have to notice that the female athletes obviously have the biggest reason to be concerned about the Zika virus outbreak and its consequences. Although the virus itself is not deadly, it may be the major cause of the rising amount of the newborns with microcephaly—a congenital disorder that affects baby’s brain. Kids with microcephaly have abnormally small head and serious cognitive development problems.
The problem is that there is an obvious correlation between the number of Zika virus cases among female patients and the number of newborns with microcephaly. Only in Brazil, the number of kids born with microcephaly has raised from 147 in 2014 to 4,074 in 2015, according to the Independent report. The Zika virus is believed to be spread mostly by mosquitoes, but according to a recent report from the U.S. researchers, it can also be transmitted through sexual contact. The biggest problem is that there is still no confirmed cure for the virus. Meanwhile, Zika is still believed to be harmless for males and grown-up women who are not pregnant and not planning to have a baby in the near future.
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