MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Friday, over 120 medical professionals addressed World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan in an open-letter calling to urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to relocate or postpone the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro due to the growing threat of the Zika virus.
"Rospotrebnadzor is closely monitoring the epidemiological situation in Brazil. According to official data, there are no serious risks for the guests of the Olympics," the monitor’s spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
The spokesperson added that Rospotrebnadzor is working closely with the Russian Sports Ministry and other bodies of executive power on the safe conduct of the Olympic Games and participation in them.
“All the measures are being taken for the prevention of infectious diseases among fans and members of national teams, in particular among the Russian athletes,” the spokesperson said.
The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito common in tropical areas of the Americas, and can affect the brains of unborn babies. The current outbreak started in Brazil in the spring of 2015 and has since spread across Latin America and the Caribbean. Cases have also been reported in several European countries and Asia.
