Scientists: Rio Olympics should be moved or postponed over Zika virus

[Morphine Prince 109,683]

More than 100 leading scientists say the Rio Olympics should be moved or postponed over the Zika outbreak.

The group says new findings about the virus make it "unethical" for the games to go ahead in an open letter to the World Health Organization.

They call on the WHO to revisit its guidance on Zika, which is linked to serious birth defects.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in May it sees no reason to delay or move the games due to Zika.

The outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease began in Brazil a year ago, but now more than 60 countries and territories have continuing transmission.

While Zika's symptoms are mild, in the letter the experts say it causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and may also cause a rare and sometimes fatal neurological syndrome in adults.

The letter is signed by 150 international scientists, doctors and medical ethicists from such institutions as Oxford University and Harvard and Yale universities in the United States.

They cite the failure of a mosquito-eradication programme in Brazil, and the country's "weakened" health system as reasons to postpone or move the Olympics in "the name of public health".

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36401150

 

[Fernster7 7,976]

OMG I had this and it was awful. It's understandable. 

[Michelle 2,056]

I was wondering  about that. They've been having a lot of issues with these Olympics.

[Cheap thrills 1,282]

I heard the Games will be move back to London

[Luxe Ford 3,481]

Nah....but whenever I see all those 'come to Brazil, Gaga!' tweets I allways want to add   '...and get zika virus!'

But that would be rude.

[Bear 7,515]

It might be for the best.

Let's not have Ebola 2.0. Yes, I know that they are completely different scenarios and different in severity, but let's not make the same mistake when lives can be saved. As the virus spreads it will be harder and harder to control, so it is always best to err on the side of caution. 

[Scar97 1,695]

They should be more afriad of the crime than zika. This is coming from a medical student 

[Economy 52,861]

Too big of an event with too many planned details to just move them

 

also athletes already planned their lives for these dates. Some may not make it if its moved!

[hmm 979]

The Olympics are far too complex to be moved at such short notice - I vaguely remember reading that LA was mooted as a stand-in host, (in the event that Rio was falling too far behind on deadlines or something) but even they needed ~1 year notice to get accommodation ready They'll either have to go ahead in Rio, or be cancelled (which is unlikely).

[Luiz 4,253]

how about moved because they cant ****ing afford it  

didnt they have to take people's homes or something when they got embarrassed at the world cup? i cant imagine what they're doing to prepare for this event. and their government isn't in the best shape right now  . 

give it to a rich nation that can put on a proper event. thats right, if you're poor you dont get to have the olympics. i dont even know if brazil is all that poor but damn it looks like a big hot mess sometimes. put the olympics in germany or the UK

[Economy 52,861]

1 hour ago, Scar97 said:

They should be more afriad of the crime than zika. This is coming from a medical student 

Tbh. Thats a bigger danger

[Katharine Hepburn 4,607]

At least this olympics will show how well organised London 2012 was  we had the spice girls.

[Duella Dvil 11,575]

41 minutes ago, CustomGueseppi said:

At least this olympics will show how well organised London 2012 was  we had the spice girls.

But you also had Taio Cruz  

[monstereo 1,232]

I wouldn't step foot in Brazil if someone offered to pay for me to visit.

 

That place is dangerous as hell.

The risk of getting Zika isn't even in the top 2 of the reasons why it should be moved.

[Chic 20,830]

8 minutes ago, monstereo said:

I wouldn't step foot in Brazil if someone offered to pay for me to visit.

 

That place is dangerous as hell.

The risk of getting Zika isn't even in the top 2 of the reasons why it should be moved.

Zika can be transmitted outside of Brazil, violent death in Brazil doesn't directly affect people who are unrelated to that individual outside of the U.S. Arguably, violence shouldn't be feared as much as a virus in this case.