Jan. 29--With the Zika virus spreading quickly across the Americas -- including Brazil where the 2016 Summer Games will be held -- the International Olympic Committee on Friday sent a memo to its member nations with advice on safeguarding against the mosquito-borne outbreak.
At the same time, multiple media outlets reported that IOC officials are confident the Rio de Janeiro Games will be safe.
"All parties are taking action to address this topic, and are following developments closely," the committee was quoted as saying in a statement.
The World Health Organization declared earlier this week that Zika, which has been linked to birth defects in infants, was a threat of "alarming proportions."
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The IOC passed along WHO suggestions that travelers take precautions against mosquito bites and women who are planning to become pregnant assess the potential risks of visiting infected areas.
