Let the Zika Games Begin?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has refused to move or postpone the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this August despite an open letter from 150 scientists requesting the change in light of the devastating presence of the Zika virus.

[lz_ndn video=30886494]

After the virus swept Brazil last year, it moved to over 60 other countries as well. Between February and April 2016, roughly 91,387 cases of the Zika virus have been reported through Brazil’s health ministry — and some 4,908 babies born with Zika-associated defects have been reported.

In the wake of these troublesome numbers, 150 of the world’s leading scientists asked WHO and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the Rio Olympics this year.

“WHO must revisit the question of Zika and postponing and/or moving the Games,” the scientists wrote. They added that they “recommend that WHO convene an independent group to advise it and the IOC in a transparent, evidence-based process in which science, public health, and the spirit of sport come first. Given the public health and ethical consequences, not doing so is irresponsible.”

The scientists also expressed concern that WHO might reject their alternative solutions because of a “conflict of interest” due to its official partnership with the IOC in a “Memorandum of Understanding that remains secret.” The letter noted a worry “in the name of public health” that WHO and the IOC comply with the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people to delay travel and exposure to areas infected by the Zika virus.

“If that advice were followed uniformly, no athlete would have to choose between risking disease and participating in a competition that many have trained for their whole lives,” the open letter said. “An unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic … It is unethical to run the risk, just for Games that could proceed anyway, if postponed and/or moved.”

“It is unethical to run the risk, just for Games that could proceed anyway, if postponed and/or moved,” said the scientists.

But WHO rejected that plea this week, stating that holding the Olympics as scheduled from August 5 through August 21 in Rio would “not significantly alter” the spread of the Zika virus. The IOC also joined with WHO in maintaining that there is no compelling reason to alter the course of the games.

“People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice,” WHO said in a statement.

The CDC also expressed its approval for the normal progress of the Olympics in Rio — despite the warnings it previously gave that were cited in the open letter.

Related: Red Cross Asks Donors to Consider Zika Virus

“There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics,” Dr. Tom Frieden of the CDC said, according to the BBC.

Oliver Brady, a virology researcher from Oxford University, added that the risk of Rio visitors contracting the Zika virus would be significantly lower in August than it would have been earlier in the year because August takes place during Brazil’s winter months, the BBC and others reported.