World Health Organization experts said that there is a "very low risk" of further int'l spread of zika virus as result of the Olympic Games to be held in Brazil, the "heart of the current outbreak linked to birth defects," according to Nebehay & Steenhuysen of REUTERS.
The WHO's Emergency Committee on zika "reaffirmed its previous advice that there should be 'no general restrictions on travel and trade with countries, areas and/or territories' with Zika transmission including cities in Brazil hosting the Olympics that start on Aug. 5, and with the Paralympic Games that follow in September."
WHO Expert Panel Chair David Heymann: "The risks are no different for people going to the Olympics than for other areas where there are outbreaks of zika." IOC President Thomas Bach said the WHO's conclusion was "very positive" for the Rio Games (REUTERS, 6/14).
GAG ORDER: In Sydney,
Harriet Alexander reported the Canadian professor whose concerns about zika at the Olympics precipitated the WHO's deliberations "has accused the health agency of gagging committee members who disagreed with the verdict on the virus." University of Ottawa public health professor Amir Attaran "was among 150 public health experts who wrote an open letter to the WHO last month calling for the Games to be moved or postponed." Professor Attaran was asked two weeks ago by WHO Dir General Margaret Chan "to attend Tuesday's meeting on Zika, but he said the invitation was revoked when he refused to sign a clause that would prevent him from discussing the deliberations" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/15).
