U.S. athletes have to recall skipping Rio if fear Zika

the usa Olympic Committee informed U.S. sports federations that athletes and body of workers concerned for their fitness over the Zika virus must do not forget now not going to the Rio 2016 Olympic games in August.

The message became added in a conference call regarding USOC officials and leaders of U.S. recreation federations in past due January, in step with two folks who participated in the call.

Federations have been advised that nobody must visit Brazil "if they do not feel relaxed going. bottom line," said Donald Anthony, president and board chairman of united states of america Fencing.

The USOC’s briefing to game federations is the latest sign that Olympics officers are taking the Zika hazard to the video games in Rio de Janeiro seriously, and acknowledging that at least a few athletes and help personnel ought to face a tough decision over whether to attend.

the united states gained most medals on the last Olympics in London in 2012, so any disruption to its presence might be important for the Rio games.

international health authorities suspect the mosquito-borne Zika virus has induced a spike in Brazil of microcephaly, a start defect marked by means of an abnormally small head. As a end result, the world health enterprise declared an worldwide fitness emergency Feb. 1, and the U.S. facilities for disease manipulate and Prevention (CDC) is advising pregnant ladies or those considering turning into pregnant to avoid journey to locations with Zika outbreaks.

The USOC’s Alan Ashley, its leader of game overall performance, and different USOC officials, briefed the leaders of the federations.

Ashley did no longer respond to electronic mail or phone calls soliciting for remark.

USOC spokesman Mark Jones confirmed by e-mail that Ashley had "briefed federation leaders at the CDC's suggestions and we can keep to make certain that athletes and officers affiliated with group usa acquire any updates from the CDC."

The USOC has not issued its own set of hints for athletes and team of workers past what the CDC and who've issued.

Jones declined to remark further or respond to particular questions from Reuters earlier than booklet.

In a assertion on Monday, every other USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said media reviews that the USOC has counseled U.S. athletes to reconsider competing in Rio because of the Zika virus had been inaccurate. It was doubtful what media reports he was relating to and he could not be right now reached for comment.

"crew united states of america appears ahead to the games and we did no longer, would now not and will now not save you athletes from competing for their country have to they qualify," Sandusky said.

EXPRESSED OPTIMISM

Recalling the convention call, Anthony, a former Olympian, stated: "one of the things that they at once stated become, especially for girls that can be pregnant or maybe taking into consideration getting pregnant, that whether or not you are scheduled to go to Rio or no, that you shouldn't cross."

"And no one should pass if they experience at all as even though that that risk could impact them," said Anthony, who praised the USOC's coping with of the outbreak to date.

Zika outbreaks have been suggested in 33 countries, maximum of them within the Americas. signs and symptoms of infection often are moderate or imperceptible. however the outbreak in Brazil that started out ultimate yr has been observed via greater than 4,000 instances of suspected microcephaly; investigators have confirmed more than four hundred. The hyperlink to Zika is unproven but strongly suspected.

In El Salvador, that is experiencing outbreaks of the virus, girls are being recommended to cast off being pregnant till 2018.

Will Connell, Director of recreation on the U.S. Equestrian Federation, said the USOC became leaving the selection as much as man or woman athletes and group of workers contributors.

"They said no one who has motives to be worried should feel obliged to go,” Connell said. "If an athlete feels that manner, of route they will decide now not to move."

all through the call, the USOC did no longer indicate they have been involved that large numbers of athletes could avoid Rio or that Zika ought to derail the video games, the 2 federation leaders said. 

as a substitute, officials expressed optimism that risk could be minimized by way of close cooperation among fitness groups, mosquito control efforts and the video games’ timing for the duration of Brazil’s wintry weather whilst mosquito-borne ailments are much less common.

The USOC officials on the call said the corporation might adhere to the recommendations of health corporations which includes the CDC, the sport federation leaders said.   

"As we get toward the Olympics the steering could get updated," Connell stated.

In a Jan. 29 letter from the global Olympic Committee (IOC) to country wide committees, the IOC’s leader docs stated they were monitoring the situation closely. They exceeded along mosquito avoidance recommendation, but remained confident the games could cross ahead as deliberate.

The Australian and New Zealand Olympic Committees stated that they had already warned their athletes of the potential risks for pregnant women.

"If any athletes on the crew felt they did not need to move, we would actually aid them on that," an NZOC spokeswoman stated on Tuesday.

An Australian Olympic Committee spokeswoman said they would "completely recognize" if an athlete selected no longer to go to Brazil.

"however at this point no athletes have indicated they intend to withdraw from the team," she delivered.

each Connell and U.S. Fencing’s Anthony stated the USOC’s message was focused typically at the potential risks for women who're pregnant or are considering trying to grow to be pregnant.

seeing that the decision, the CDC has issued more steering in light of growing suspicion that Zika may be transmitted sexually. The CDC said Friday that guys who reside in or have traveled to Zika-affected areas may additionally want to abstain from sexual hobby or use condoms.

The Olympics have long promised to be a positive exhibit for Latin the united states, that's gambling host to the worldwide sports activities spectacle for the first time. Rio has additionally been looking forward to greater than 380,000 vacationers for the games, which come as Brazil’s economy is mired in recession and its authorities reels from a corruption scandal at state oil employer Petrobras.

An ongoing Zika epidemic could activate some athletes, group of workers, sponsors and high-spending tourists to steer clear of the video games. although the chance of infection to any given traveler could be very low – as fitness experts assume – uncertainties persist. there may be no Zika vaccine, and currently to be had blood checks cannot always stumble on the virus.

Olympics officers "are taking the proper technique from a viewpoint of, permit's be cautious, do not do anything this is going to place each person, our group of workers or our athletes in danger," Anthony stated.