Feb. 16--The spread of the Zika virus has raised questions and concerns about the Olympics from Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro. Here we try to address some of them.
What is Zika, and how does it spread?
Zika, primarily spread by mosquitoes, was first identified in Uganda in 1947. Outbreaks have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The virus' spread led the World Health Organization to declare a global medical emergency. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the symptoms are usually mild and last two to seven days.
Is there a proven link between Zika and birth defects?
This week the CDC director told a House panel it had identified Zika virus in the tissue of two babies who died in Brazil from microcephaly, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development and abnormal smallness of the head. "This is the strongest evidence to date that Zika is the cause of microcephaly," CDC Director Tom Frieden told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. But he said the findings did not prove that the virus causes the birth defect and that more testing was needed.
Frieden reiterated that Zika is not a major threat to the rest of the population. Eighty percent of people who contract the virus will have no symptoms at all, and the rest will have only mild symptoms, he said.
As of now, the CDC recommends that "pregnant women should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Women trying to become pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip."
Is there a vaccine to prevent Zika?
There is no vaccine, nor is there any medicine to treat the virus.
Is there a chance the Olympics could be canceled or relocated?
Brazilian officials have said the Olympics will not be canceled due to the Zika virus. Authorities there insist there is no risk to athletes or fans -- except, that is, to pregnant women.
"We remain confident that there will be a safe environment for successful and enjoyable Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," the International Olympic Committee has said.
Perhaps a greater danger to the Games is Brazil's precarious economy and the massive expense to stage a Summer Olympics, estimated at nearly $2 billion. That nation is experiencing its deepest recession since the 1930s. Inflation is more than 10 percent, the currency has lost 30 percent of its value in the last year against the dollar and President Dilma Rousseff is battling impeachment charges.
The Olympic Games, incidentally, have been called off before: in 1916 due to World War I and in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II.
What are Rio officials doing to address the issue?
"Rio will welcome the world and its athletes to a very safe environment," Mario Andrada, communications director for Brazil's Olympic Committee, said Tuesday. One important factor to consider, he said, is that August comes during the Brazilian winter, when mosquitoes are typically scarce.
"The rate of infections due to mosquito bites drops drastically and virtually reaches zero," he said.
Earlier this week in Rio de Janeiro, more than 3,000 city workers were reportedly spraying insecticide and searching for mosquitoes in preparation for Mardi Gras festivities.
What about fans and tourists?
Anbritt Stengele, president of Chicago-based Sports Traveler, said she has not had any cancellations of trips to the Rio Olympics, but several who are considering trips are now pulling back.
"People are saying they need a little time to think it over," she said. "It's suddenly becoming very real."
Stengele said she intends to go to Rio this August but will be closely monitoring the situation. "What counts now is how they react to it," she said.
There has been a "very small decrease" in foreign tourists, the Brazilian tourist board said this week. World health authorities, howeverm have no restrictions on travel to the country.
What has been the reaction from Olympic athletes?
As one would expect, it has ranged from one extreme to the other.
"If I had to make the choice today, I wouldn't go," U.S. soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo told SI.com. "I would never take the risk of having an unhealthy child," Solo said in the SI.com interview. "Competing in the Olympics should be a safe environment for every athlete, male and female alike. Female athletes should not be forced to make a decision that could sacrifice the health of a child."
"I'm confident that (Rio officials) will figure it out and that the safety of the athletes is the priority," said Chicagoan Chirine Njeim, three-time Olympian in Alpine skiing for Lebanon who recently qualified for the Rio Games as a marathoner. "I'm sure by then there will be no issues Yes, it is a concern for a lot of women who are planning to be pregnant. I know a lot of people have questions about that. But I'm hoping (officials) are working hard to figure out a way to control it. And it will be wintertime there; I keep telling that to myself."
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal said: "I'm not scared. I'm not worried about this. If it happens, it's bad luck."
The U.S. Olympic Committee announced last week it will hire two infectious-disease specialists to advise potential Olympians who are worried about the Zika outbreak. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun sent a letter Wednesday to all potential Olympians, acknowledging the growing worries over the virus.
"I know that the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil is of concern to many of you," Blackmun wrote. "I want to emphasize that it is to us, as well, and that your well-being in Rio this summer is our highest priority."
On Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach that no countries intend to pull out of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro over concerns about the Zika virus.
Bach said he has "full confidence" in the actions being undertaken by the Brazilian authorities and global health organizations to combat the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus.
What is the U.S. Olympic Committee's position on Zika as it relates to the Rio Games and to the athletes?
Reuters reported this week that the USOC told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff with health concerns regarding the Zika virus should consider not going to Rio. But the USOC has denied that. "The reports that the USOC has advised U.S. athletes to reconsider competing in Rio due to the Zika virus are 100 percent inaccurate," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. "Team USA looks forward to the Games, and we did not, would not and will not prevent athletes from competing for their country should they qualify. The inaccurate report cited an internal discussion with U.S. sports leaders pertaining to employees and the potential risks that the CDC has identified with travel to Zika-infected areas."
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ABC News, Tribune news services, Washington Post, World Health Organization, USA Today, cbc.com, Associated Press, BBC, Los Angeles Times. Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein contributed.
tbannon@tribpub.com
