Posted on 05/27/2016 2:18:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The letter shows a growing gap within the medical field on what to do about the Games. On Thursday, Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics."
The CDC's current recommendation is that pregnant women should not travel to areas where the virus is spreading and that men with the virus who have pregnant partners should use condoms when having sex for the duration of the pregnancy.
"We're working closely with the USOC and Brazilian health authorities, and will update our guidance if needed," Frieden said in a statement Friday in response to the new letter.
The WHO had no immediate reaction to Friday's letter. The International Olympic Committee has said it has no plans to cancel or postpone the Games.
There have been calls in recent months for a delay or postponement of the Olympics, but what makes Friday's letter different is the scope and number of physicians, professors and bioethicists who signed it -- from Japan to South Africa, Norway to the United States.
The officials said the Zika virus has "more serious medical consequences than previously known" and has worsened in the Rio area despite widespread mosquito treatment programs.
"It is unethical to run the risk," the letter said. "It is therefore imperative that WHO conduct a fresh, evidence-based assessment of Zika and the Games, and its recommendations for travelers."
The Zika virus has been shown to cause microcephaly, a rare birth defect in which babies develop abnormally small heads and other neurological problems.
The Olympics are set to begin in just over two months, running from August 5 to August 21. More than 500,000 people are expected to travel to Brazil from around the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtae.com ...
“what makes Friday’s letter different is the scope and number of physicians, professors and bioethicists who signed it — from Japan to South Africa, Norway to the United States. “
I think they should pay serious attention to this warning and recommendation.
I’m not sure.
Since Zika has been shown to be transmitted sexually, keep “gays” away.
What will they do? You know many bribes have occured to even have it in Rio.
What would the Olympics be without the swimming competitions?
Don’t know, but I sense a great disturbance my American taxpayer’s wallet.
;)
I don’t care about Zika. My fear level is zero. But the leftists want to make a fake crisis out of it.
Unfortunately, that's not the way human nature works. Athletes who've spent most of their lives training to get to the Olympics will rationalize that they can avoid being infected. In addition, they'll not want to let their team mates down.
It's more likely that support personnel and tourists rethink attending.
I'm wondering if one fallout will be that this will usher in an era where there won't be Olympic games with all events at the same place in a short interval of time.
The health concerns I have heard about are all related to the open water events. Athletes have been getting sick from swimming, sailing, rowing, etc through the bay.
Rio may very well, kill the modern games.
That would really collapse Brazil’s economy after they dumped so much money into it. Plus the upheaval of all those people they moved.
“There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics.”
Reminds me of the movie “JAWS”.
Really - this reminds me of a real-life version of one of those virus horror flicks.
We’ll be watching the events on HD with mosquito nets deployed. Any ideas on how to get rid of Bob costas. ?
If Zika is so threatening there should be a travel restriction already in place. Just stay around the Olympic venue sites which have already been heavily treated with insecticide to control breeding. It’s going to be winter anyway, so the risk is going to be extremely low in terms of mosquito transmission. There is definitely a greater risk of the flu or food poisoning not to mention swimming around open sewage.
It’s the summer games. It starts in August.
Heh. I didn’t realize our summer was Brazillian winter.
The games MUST go on!
Because watching I defend into chaos will be very entertaining!
Way too late to do anything now!
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