Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

IOC sends medical advice to Olympic committees on Zika virus

In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, homes are lit by the setting sun in Ibura, one of the neighborhoods with the highest numbers of suspected cases of children born with microcephaly in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The Zika virus is the suspected culprit of 3,400 cases of microcephaly in the country. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, homes are lit by the setting sun in Ibura, one of the neighborhoods with the highest numbers of suspected cases of children born with microcephaly in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The Zika virus is the suspected culprit of 3,400 cases of microcephaly in the country. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, homes are lit by the setting sun in Ibura, one of the neighborhoods with the highest numbers of suspected cases of children born with microcephaly in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The Zika virus is the suspected culprit of 3,400 cases of microcephaly in the country. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

By Associated Press 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – The IOC is advising national Olympic committees to follow the World Health Organization’s guidance on dealing with the Zika virus ahead of the games in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil has been hit hard by the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in infants, raising concerns about the outbreak’s potential impact on the Olympics in August.

The International Olympic Committee sent a note Friday to all national Olympic committees outlining the latest medical advice concerning Zika, the latest problem for a country already dealing with a severe economic crisis and a sprawling corruption scandal.

The IOC’s medical commission says “we remain confident that there will be a safe environment for successful and enjoyable Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.”