Brazil allays Zika concerns
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday July 27, 2016 11:26
Reading a message on behalf of Brazil’s acting President, Michel Temer at the team’s send off ceremony on Monday night, Diniz said there is no need to be concerned about the virus which results in birth defects.
“We can assure you, as has the World Health Organisation, that the risk of Zika infection during the Games is practically non-existent. Historically, an extremely low incidence of disease transmitted by the AedesAegypti mosquito has been recorded during the winter season in the Southern Hemisphere. Indeed, there has been a dramatic decline in cases of Zika infection in Rio de Janeiro and throughout Brazil in the past few weeks,” Diniz said.
Medications or vaccines cannot prevent the illness. Zika can also spread from a pregnant woman to her foetus resulting in severe brain malformations and other birth defects.
More than one million people are expected for the Olympic games which run from August 5 to 21.
Diniz said the Olympic village, which has been shunned by other countries, has just opened with over 17,000 athletes expected to take up residence for the duration of the games. More than 85,000 security officers will be deployed “to ensure peace and tranquility” during the games, Diniz said.
“All sports facilities, especially those serving the Olympic Park in the BarradaTijuca neighborhood, are also up and ready,” he said.
Botswana is sending 12 athletes; nine from athletics, two from swimming and one from judo.
The team leaves today.