IOC medical chief seeks to allay Zika fears

Workers holds a flag that reads in portugues "Out Zika" as part of a campaign to warn people about the spread of the Zika virus during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

LONDON — Seeking to calm fears over the Zika outbreak, the IOC medical director tells The Associated Press that "everything that can be done is being done" to combat the virus in Brazil and provide safe conditions for athletes at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Dr. Richard Budgett says the International Olympic Committee is "absolutely not complacent" about the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to birth defects.

He says "our priority is to protect the health of the athletes, we do take it very seriously."

Budgett says the outbreak should be kept "in perspective," noting that world health authorities have not called for a restriction on travel to Brazil.

He says there has been no consideration of postponing or cancelling the Olympics, which are scheduled from Aug. 5-21.

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