CALGARY — Canadian wrestlers currently in Rio de Janiero for a women’s Olympic test event are taking steps to avoid the Zika virus, according to Wrestling Canada’s executive director.
Pan Am Games champion Dorothy Yeats of Montreal is among five women competing in the Aquece Rio International Women’s Wrestling Tournament in Rio on Saturday and Sunday.
"Our delegation is taking the recommended proper precautions including wearing proper clothing, using mosquito repellent and nets," Tamara Medwidsky told The Canadian Press in an e-mail Thursday.
"We also have a medical staff person travelling with the delegation that is monitoring all health risks during the team’s stay in Rio."
The mosquito-borne Zika virus is making headlines because of its links to birth defects and because Brazil has a severe outbreak on its hands ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
There is no cure nor vaccine yet for the virus. The World Health Organization has called an emergency meeting Monday in Geneva to determine whether the virus constitutes an international public health emergency.
The Canadian Olympic Committee’s chief medical officer is keeping an eye on Zika’s fast-moving developments.
But unless an athlete arrives in Rio pregnant, Bob McCormack considers Brazil’s other mosquito-borne viruses such as Dengue and Yellow fever, Chickungunya and malaria as serious a threat to Canada’s athletes as Zika if not more.
"It is an issue and it’s something we’re certainly following," McCormack said from Vancouver. "But it’s only one of several issues we’re following.
"For most people who get the Zika virus, they have no symptoms. Eighty to 90 per cent have no symptoms. The rest have usually very mild symptoms, a little bit of a fever, rash and pink eye.
"The reason this has got such profile is the risk of severe defects. If you are pregnant and get infected, that can be a real concern."
The Government of Canada hadn’t issued a travel advisory for Brazil specific to the Zika virus as of Thursday.
But a travel health notice posted Jan. 15 for Central and South America recommended pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant discuss travel plans to those areas with their doctor "to assess their risk and consider postponing travel to areas where the Zika virus is circulating in the Americas."
McCormack believes the chance of a pregnant athlete competing at the Summer Games is "very, very small", but says Zika would be a serious issue for any Canadian team support staff or athletes’ friends and family travelling to Rio if they are pregnant.
"Our position would be we’d follow the lead of the government," McCormack said. "That if you are pregnant, that you avoid going. If you have no choice, you take strict precautions against mosquitoes."
The Public Health Agency of Canada says all travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites when travelling to areas where Zika virus is circulating.
Any virus or illness can derail an athlete in Rio. Canadian swimmer Annamay Pierse contracted Dengue fever at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
"It’s not just Zika. It’s all the other mosquito-born viruses, of which there are several, that we just need people to be aware of and to take appropriate precautions," McCormack said. "Use repellent and appropriate clothing."
He’s encouraged Brazil has embarked on a mass fumigation campaign in Rio. McCormack pointed out mosquitoes will be less prevalent in August and September, which is that country’s winter.
After last month’s controversy over air conditioning in the athletes’ village, the Rio organizing committee confirmed it will be provided free. That means athletes can close their windows and keep mosquitoes out, McCormack said.
