The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have acknowledged the threat posed by the Zika virus and issued a health advisory to travellers to Brazil for Olympics.
The threat of infection through Zica virus has forced the Indian Olympic Association to issue an advisory for all the Indian athletes and the support staff participating in Rio Games to "not to have sex" during their stay in Brazil.
This is one of the five-point advisory, soon to be issued by the IOA to the Rio-bound contingent, in the wake of Zica virus which has spread to almost 60 countries globally, including Brazil.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have acknowledged the threat posed by the Zika virus and issued a health advisory to travellers to Brazil for Olympics. The IOA too has decided to make the Indian athletes and coaches aware about the risk posed by the virus which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes.
Apart from the refrain from sex advice during their stay at the Games and, even four weeks after returning from the Rio, the IOA would also be advising the Indian female athletes to "not hide their pregnancy" for their own safety. As per some studies, nearly 1,300 babies till date in Brazil have been born with irreversible brain damage due to Zika virus infection.
As per the IOC's advisory, "pregnant women should not travel to areas of ongoing Zika virus transmission, including Brazil; women planning to start a family should avoid conception for at least four weeks after leaving Brazil and consult a doctor; and pregnant women whose sexual partners live in or travel to areas with Zika virus transmission should adopt safer sexual practices or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy".
Chef de mission of India to Rio Olympics, Rakesh Gupta said, "We would be issuing a travel advisory to Indian athletes and support staff to avoid getting infected by the Zika virus. Although, the IOC has issued its health advisory, outlining a number of precautions to be taken during the Games, the IOA, too, felt that a separate advisory for the Indian contingent is needed with some specific pointers."
Another senior IOA official said it would have been difficult for them to discuss a sensitive topic personally and openly with Rio-bound athletes, especially the female sportspersons, an advisory was thought to be the best way possible to communicate the measures.
Another important subject, which will form part of the advisory, would be to avoid venturing out in Rio alone, due to the city's high crime rate. "It would be advisable to roam around in group with the teammates and coaching staff," said the official.
Must carry mosquito repellent
The IOA would also be providing a mosquito repellent, which must contain either DEET (diethyltoluamide) 20 per cent or more, or IR 3535, or Picaridin, to the Indian contingent. The IOC has asked the IOA to look for the repellent in the Indian market and purchase it in bulk, or else it would provide it.
The repellent will have to be applied several times a day, while it would be advised to wear light-coloured loose-fitting clothes which cover as much of the body as possible.
The IOA would also make the "yellow fever" vaccination mandatory for all travelling to Rio, and three centres have been identified in Delhi for the purpose. The names of the centres will be given in the advisory and the vaccination will be done free-of-cost.
THE FORBIDDEN
Below are the advisories handed out by IOA to every Rio-bound athlete and support staff
* No sex in Rio
* IOA to ask women athletes not to hide pregnancy
* Only IOC-approved mosquito repellents can be used
* Yellow fever vaccination must for everyone
* No athlete can venture out alone in Rio due to theft and robbery issues
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