WHO chief ‘confident’ Olympics will be safe despite Zika threat

Brasília (AFP) – The head of the World Health Organization voiced confidence Tuesday that Brazil will be able to host the Rio Olympic Games safely, despite concern over the Zika virus.

“I want to reassure you — we are in February now, and the Olympic Games are in August — that the government is working very closely with the International Olympic Movement, with the local organizing committee and supported by WHO and PAHO and other partners to make sure we have a very good work plan to tackle the vector, the mosquito,” WHO chief Margaret Chan said.

We must “make sure that people who come here either for the Games as a visitor, as a participant or athletes, will get the maximum protection they need. And I’m confident that the government can do it,” she added, referring to Brazil’s strategy to combat the mosquito-transmitted virus linked to serious birth defects.

• Sports Recreation
• Olympics
• World Health Organization