Women Urged To ‘Consider the Risks’ Before Travelling to Rio for Olympics

Athletes and fans planning on travelling to the Olympic Games in Brazil this summer have been warned to consider the risks posed by an 'explosive' outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika Virus there.  As preparations continue for Rio 2016 in August, it is estimated up to 4,000 infants in Brazil have been born with microcephaly, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development, after their mothers contracted the virus during pregnancy. As Germany confirmed that five cases of the Zika virus had been recorded there between October 2015 and January 2016 and an Irish doctor said he had also treated patients with the virus, many countries have begun warning their athletes about the risks, with the International Olympic Committee expected to issue guidelines regarding travel this week.

‘All females of child-bearing age need to be aware of the specific risks of microcephaly in newborns, should the mother become infected during pregnancy,’ David Hughes, the Australia team’s medical director, told The Telegraph. ‘Following the recently updated guidelines, any team members who are pregnant at the time of the Games need to consider the risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with travel to Brazil.’

Scientists are scrambling to develop a vaccine for pregnant women, but it is unlikely one will be available until the end of the year. Click here for a full list of destinations to avoid if you are pregnant. For more information, see the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.