IOC/Philippine Olympic Committee monitoring Zika virus in lead up to Rio Olympics

This appears in rappler.com

IOC/POC closely monitoring Zika virus in lead up to Rio

by rick olivares pic from bbc.com

In a circular dated last 29th of January, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that action has been taken to combat the deadly Zika virus that is rapidly spreading across South America and that has infected some 1.5 million people in Brazil.

"The Rio Olympics will go on,” bared Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president and spokesman Jose “Joey” Romasanta in an interview with Rappler. “But precautions are being undertaken by the IOC, the Rio Organizing Committee not only for the health and safety of the Brazilian people but also for the athletes and tourists who will be going there for the Olympics."

In IOC’s memorandum, Professor Dr. Ugur Erdener, Chairman of the Medical and Scientific Commission bared that with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to abnormal child births a “public health of international concern” every effort is being taken by the IOC, WHO, the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, and Brazil’s Armed Forces to ensure the safety of all the athletes and travellers participating in the Olympics. 

“Fumigation, constant inspection of possible breeding grounds for mosquitos, and the spread of literature regarding the virus is ongoing,” added Romasanta. "I met with our team physician, Dr. Ferdinand Brawner, to find out more about the virus and to discuss what measures we should take as a delegation. It is a potential health problem that could pose a problem not only for our athletes but for everyone else should they get infected."

"We have to be vigilant because mahirap yung pinagdinaanan ng mga atleta natin and for them to come down with the virus means they will be out for a week. It is not as bad as dengue but the effect is still bad because you will be immobilized for a week. Right now no one is sure if there are other effects outside what it does to pregnant women but you still want to take every precaution."

"And there’s the risk of being infected but you might not know it until you go home to your country and that presents problems as well of a wider outbreak. It is a serious concern and the Philippine Olympic Committee is on top of this."