In light of new research suggesting that tourists travelling to Brazil for the Olympics will only incur a slight risk increase for Zika infection, the World Health Organization will rethink its travel recommendations regarding the Olympics at the organization's third emergency Zika meeting on June 14, according to Reuters.
Brazilian officials have confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly in babies born to Zika-exposed mothers in their country. The WHO has previously recommended that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas where the virus has proliferated and that men who have been exposed to Zika practice safe sex or abstinence for up to six months.
The impact of the virus on Brazil and its spread throughout the Americas spurred 200 bioethicists and health experts to sign a letter asking the WHO to recommend postponing or moving the Olympics to avoid accelerating the spread of the epidemic with an influx of foreign travel. The WHO rejected the call; however, the issue is docketed for discussion at the emergency meeting next week.
During a recent news conference covered by Reuters, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said, "The role of the emergency committee is to review all new science and all new evidence which has come in over the past months and to review their own recommendations, to make new recommendations or give out new guidance."
According to Reuters, many risk experts and epidemiologists are predicting that only a small number of travelers would become infected with Zika during the Olympics.
For their part, Brazilian authorities are attempting to allay Zika concerns — the local organizing committee for the Olympics recently reported zero instances of Zika infection among 17,000 athletes, volunteers and staff already in Brazil. A Sao Paulo-based research group forecasted that the Olympics would result in less than 15 Zika infections among foreign visitors.
Mr. Lindmeier added, "Of course there is a lot of international concern out there, there is a lot of personal concern out there because it's a new disease...and the best way for us to react to emotional concerns is to look at our deep science and to give clear guidance as good as we can."
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