Zika virus is a mild disease and most
people with the virus do not have symptoms. However, the recent rise in the
spread of Zika virus in Brazil has been accompanied by an unprecedented rise in
the number of children being born with unusually small heads—identified as
microcephaly. In addition, several countries, including Brazil, reported a
steep increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome—a neurological disorder that could
lead to paralysis and death. Based on research, there is scientific consensus
that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
According to CDC Director, “there is
clear evidence that even asymptomatic infection with Zika during pregnancy can
result in microcephaly and based on past studies, about four out of five Zika
infections appear to be asymptomatic. Zika almost certainly causes
Guillain-Barre syndrome which is temporary paralysis. This condition has
been seen with other infections as well and it is generally
treatable. That's not what's so unusual about Zika. What's so
unusual about Zika is the threat to pregnant women. Controlling this mosquito
is really hard. Aedes aegypti is the
cockroach of mosquitoes. It lives indoors and outdoors. It bites
during the daytime and the nighttime. Its eggs can last for more than a
year. They can hatch in a drop of water. In parts of the U.S. and Puerto
Rico, they're highly resistant to certain insecticides. They prefer
people, so they generally spread disease among people. And when they take
a blood meal, they'll often bite four or five people at once. So they're
capable of rapidly spreading the infection. There is no example of
effective control of this mosquito in the modern era.”
Based
on WHO Public Health Advise released on 31 May 2016, cancelling or changing the
location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international
spread of Zika virus. Brazil is 1 of almost 60 countries and territories which
to date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes. People continue
to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The
best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.
WHO advises
pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission.
This includes Rio de Janeiro. Pregnant women’s sex partners returning from
areas with circulating virus should be counselled to practise safer sex or
abstain throughout the pregnancy.
Anyone
considering travel to the Olympics should:
- Follow the travel
advice provided by WHO
and their countries’ health authorities, and consult a health worker
before travelling.
- Whenever possible, during the
day, protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellents and
by wearing clothing – preferably light-colored – that covers as much of
the body as possible.
- Practice safer sex (for example,
use condoms correctly and consistently) or abstain from sex during their
stay and for at least 8 weeks after their return, particularly if they
have had or are experiencing symptoms of Zika virus.
- Choose air-conditioned
accommodation (where windows and doors are usually kept closed to prevent
the cool air from escaping, and mosquitoes cannot enter the rooms).
- Avoid visiting areas in cities
and towns with no piped water or poor sanitation (ideal breeding grounds
of mosquitoes), where the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes is higher.
WHO/PAHO is
providing public health advice to the Government of Brazil and the Rio 2016
Organizing Committee, on ways to further mitigate the risk of athletes and
visitors contracting Zika virus during the Games. An important focus of WHO
advice revolves around measures to reduce populations of Aedes
mosquitoes which transmit chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever in addition to
Zika virus.
Based on the
current assessment of Zika virus circulating in almost 60 countries globally
and 39 countries in the Americas, there is no public health justification for
postponing or cancelling the games. WHO will continue to monitor the situation
and update our advice as necessary. Furthermore, the Games will take
place during Brazil's wintertime, when there are fewer active mosquitoes and
the risk of being bitten is lower.
Dr. Shima
Naghavi, Director of International Affairs