Team Singapore alert to Rio’s Zika threat

SINGAPORE — Team Singapore athletes and officials bound for ­August’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro have been advised to take extra precautions in the face of rising fears over the Zika virus.

Brazil is the epicentre of the rapidly spreading Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that Brazilian scientists say is linked to a rare birth defect. The growing international health emergency around Zika could scare athletes and fans off travelling to South America’s first Olympics, as organisers prepare for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Team Singapore’s Chef de Mission for the Rio Games, Low Teo Ping, said today (Feb 1) that the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) has received an advisory from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding this.

“We are monitoring the situation and developments closely with the IOC and the relevant local ­authorities and will remain guided by them,” said Low, who added that the SNOC has contacted the national sports associations preparing for the Games to advise athletes and ­officials to take extra precautions. 

These include minimising the risks and contact with mosquitoes when visiting areas susceptible to the virus, and taking extra measures to prevent insect bites. 

“The SNOC will continue to monitor the situation with vigilance and provide advice and assistance in the best interests of our athletes and ­officials’ health and safety,” said Low. 

At a wrestling test event last Sunday for the Games ­— at a venue in Rio’s new Olympic Park — Brazilian athlete Aline Silva said she and her team-mates are very concerned about Zika. “It’s very worrying,” said Silva, who said she applies repellent about every 90 minutes when she is away from home. “Really, the biggest problem is in training and competing — when I can’t use it (repellent).

“I have had dengue twice, so I am aware about all of this. Maybe I am more worried than most.”

Several foreign athletes talked about slathering on mosquito ­repellent, staying in their hotel rooms and keeping away from the water and beaches in order to avoid mosquitoes.

American wrestler Adeline Gray, a three-time world champion who will be an Olympic favourite for gold, said her coaches have banned her from going swimming in Brazil during her short stay. “We’re not spending too much time outside. We’re wearing long sleeves, long pants and just making sure we have on as much bug spray as we can,” she said.

Rio organisers have been scouring Olympic venues daily for two weeks, looking for standing ­water where mosquitoes breed. Rio spokesman Mario Andrada said ­inspections would continue daily ­until the Games open on Aug 5. That will be in Brazil’s winter, when it is cooler and drier and the mosquito population is smaller. 

He emphasised that no one is publicly talking about cancelling or postponing the Games. “This has never been mentioned. No way,” said ­Andrada. “It’s impossible to do that. There is no reason to do that.” AGENCIES