Could The Zika Virus Doom The 2016 Rio Summer Olympics?

[Purveyor]

Bryan Altman

From the outset, various issues have plagued and have threatened to cause serious problems throughout the duration of the games for the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio De Janiero, Brazil.

First came reports of highly polluted water offshore in the bay and lagoon areas that would be used for various aquatic events during the Olympic games.

Now, a virus known as the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus that predominately affects pre-natal women and can cause microcephaly in newborns, has reared its head in Brazil as well.

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The health-based issues in Rio began in 2014 but came to a head over the summer of 2015 when a German sailor named Erik Heil came down with MRSA, a flesh-eating bacteria and potentially deadly disease, after a test event in Rio. Later in the summer, other athletes came down with similar illnesses after partaking in test events in the contaminated water as well.

In the wake of the illnesses, promises were made by Olympic and World Health Organization officials to test and clean up the waters. However, a test conducted by the AP in December of 2015 confirmed that not only had the situation not improved, but the problem was more widespread than they had imagined.

Concerns about the safety of the water quality haven’t been quelled, and now the Zika virus is threatening to compound the issue of athlete safety in Rio.

more...

http://radio.cbssports.com/2016/02/03/zika-virus-rio-summer-olympics-2016/

[dhill926]

1. water issue alone should tank this Olympics...

this is headed for an epic failure...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Vaccines take time, a lot of time.

They don't even know just how the disease is transmitted.

It's going to be a while before there are any answers, never mind cures.

BTW, Welcome to DU!