Zika won't be a big threat at Olympics - Health officials

Brazil

Officials from the Rio Olympics committee have reassured athletes and visitors that Zika will not be a big risk to the upcoming games.

Health experts said on Tuesday that the Olympics would contribute a meager 0.25 percent increase in the overall risk of the disease spread.

“The risk of the Zika virus during the Olympic Games in Rio classified as a very low or no risk, this was stated very recently for CDC that is usually signed by most experienced serious infectious disease guys from Europe” said Joao Grangeiro , the Rio 2016 Chief Medical Officer.

New models obtained by Reuters suggest risk of Zika at Olympics is small: https://t.co/kFhzdowiH8 pic.twitter.com/ntpy6cgItp
— Reuters Top News (Reuters) June 7, 2016

The assurance comes after a letter signed by health experts late last month calling for the World Health Organisation to recommend postponing the games to prevent an acceleration of the spread of the virus.

The WHO will hold a Zika emergency meeting in the coming weeks to evaluate the risks associated with going on with the Olympics games in August.

_Reuters _