With the recent Zika outbreak in South and Central America, scientists and health officials from around the world are calling for the 2016 Rio Olympics later this summer to be moved or rescheduled.

The group of scientists recently wrote an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) asking for the games to be looked at again.

“It is unethical to run the risk, just for Games that could proceed anyway, if postponed and/or moved.”

Also in the letter, the scientists say the WHO needs to revisit its previous statements about the Zika, which is linked to major birth defects. They also call out the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the statements they made earlier this month that it doesn’t see a reason to delay or move the games because of Zika.

The mosquito-born disease outbreak started in Brazil a year ago and has spread to over 60 countries and territories. While the symptoms of the disease are mild at first, they can have longterm affects on babies and adults.

In our view, several new scientific findings require WHO to reconsider its advice on the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For example:

1. That the Brazilian viral strain causes microcephaly3 and probably Guillain-Barré syndrome4. Further, because human5, animal6 and in vitro studies7 demonstrate that the virus is neurotrophic and causes cell death, it is biologically plausible that there are other as yet undiscovered neurological injuries, as exist for similar viruses (e.g. dengue).8

2. That while Zika’s risk to any single individual is low, the risk to a population is undeniably high. Currently, Brazil’s government reports 120,000 probable Zika cases,9 and 1,300 confirmed cases of microcephaly (with another 3,300 under investigation)10, which is above the historical level of microcephaly.11

3. That Rio de Janeiro is highly affected by Zika. Brazil’s government reports Rio de Janeiro state has the second-highest number of probable Zika cases in the country (32,000)

The letter was signed by 150 international scientists, medical ethicists, and doctors from places like Harvard, Oxford, and other universities in the United States and abroad.

Additionally, they go to great lengths to point out how Rio as a city hasn’t done a good job of containing the virus. On top of that, they make it clear it will be tough for them to continue to manage the outbreak with thousands of tourists and athletes coming and leaving.

7. That one cannot count on nature for defence. While lower mosquito activity during Rio’s winter months reduces the individual risk to travelers of infection, that is partly offset when travelers who became infected return home during the northern hemisphere’s summer months and peak mosquito activity, which increases the public health risk that local mosquitos acquire and spread the virus—meaning that both seasons are relevant to the epidemic’s course.16 Also, infection can spread through blood donations and transfusions, particularly in poor countries that lack screening for Zika.

This point is important to keep in mind because of the games occurring during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. Throughout the winter, mosquitos are less likely to be active and mate. As a result, there is a lower risk for people to be bitten and infected during the winter than during the summer months in Brazil.

The WHO has already declared the Zika virus a “global public health emergency,” but hasn’t commented on the letter.

United States Olympic officials have already begun to plan for how to protect US athletes and tourists from the virus.

According to The Washington Post, 11 Senators recently asked the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) for information on how athletes and fans would be protected during and after the Games from the virus. The USOC said it has been working with a special infectious disease advisory group formed in March that has provided the USOC with real-time information on Zika.

Athletes have also been spoken to about how to prevent themselves from mosquito bites whether its by staying in air-conditioned areas or wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants.

The Rio Olympics begin on August 5th and run until the 21st.

[BBC]

About David Lauterbach

David is a writer for The Comeback. He enjoyed two Men's Basketball Final Four trips for Syracuse before graduating in 2016. If The Office or Game of Thrones is on TV, David will be watching.