Brazil is in a state of health emergency because of the outbreak of the zika virus. However, Rio de Janeiro mayor has assured that the zika virus would not pose any threat for the forthcoming Olympic Games to be hosted in the capital of the South American Nation.
“The Olympic Games will take place in August, the Winter season of Brazil hence there will not be any disease-transmitting mosquitoes. It is obvious that zika is a problem but the problem exists only at this moment, not for the Olympic Games,” explained the mayor.
Zika virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also spreads dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya. It causes infected pregnant Women to give birth to babies with microcephaly. Around 4,200 babies were born with microcephaly in Brazil since October 2015.