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Harvard Scientist: Rio Olympics Could Spark 'Full Blown Global Health Disaster' (independent.co.uk)

An anonymous reader writes: Doctors have warned that the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro could spark a "full-blown public health disaster" with the spread of the Zika virus. The World Health Organization has declared a health emergency in response to the disease's spread through Latin America. Rio has the highest number of cases of any state in the country. Dr Amir Attaran said in the Harvard Public Health Review the Olympic Games could increase the spread of the virus, suggesting the Games should be hosted by a different city in Brazil. "While Brazil's Zika inevitably will spread globally, given enough time, viruses always do -- it helps nobody to speed that up," he said. "In particular, it cannot possibly help when an estimated 500,000 foreign tourists flock into Rio for the Games, potentially becoming infected, and returning to their homes where both local Aedes mosquitoes and sexual transmission can establish new outbreaks." It's highly unlikely the virus will cause officials to take drastic action since the Games start on August 5th. With economic and political issues in the country, the Zika virus is just one more thing undermining confidence in the country's ability to host the Olympics. It was reported earlier this year that Rio has given up on its promise to eliminate 80 percent of the sewage found in the city's notoriously filthy water.

2 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Filthy drinking water? by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Who cares about the water and dying children? They have a good soccer team. Get your priorities straight. More stadiums!

  2. Re:Not very realistic by just+another+AC · · Score: 4, Informative

    Competed at last few Olympics personally...

    Yes a lot happens, but the village also provides free condoms. Most people use them, as such, the village becomes the highest consumption of condoms ever. Easy to google and verify this. Although some of this number is people hoarding these for future use.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...

    Long story short, all athletes going to Rio have been warned many times over and advised that men should use protection for at least a month, and should not try for children for at least 6 months post games. Similar for women (but I think they only need wait a month for some reason).