UN: Science counters ’emotional concerns’ about Zika in Rio
GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) — The World Health Organization says the best way to address the “emotional concerns” about the Zika virus and its possible impact on this year’s Summer Olympics in Rio is to offer clear guidance based on “deep science.”
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier on Tuesday noted worries about Zika “because it has been very much in the media, around especially the Rio Olympics.”
Next week the UN health agency will convene a Zika emergency committee to assess the latest status of the virus, which can cause brain damage in newborns and paralysis in adults. The Zika virus is now in 60 countries, with Olympic host Brazil the hardest-hit nation.
WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan has asked committee members to examine the risks of holding the Olympic Games, which run August 5-21.
