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WHO rejects scientists' call to postpone Rio games over Zika outbreak

by India Blooms News Service 27 May 2016, 10:46 pm

New Delhi, May 28 (IBNS) The World Health Organization (WHO) has turned down a call by leading scientists to move or postpone this summer's Rio Olympic Games over the Zika outbreak.

BBC has quoted WHO as saying that this would "not significantly alter" the spread of the virus, which is linked to serious birth defects.

In an open letter to the WHO, about 150 leading scientists had said new findings about Zika, a mosquito-borne viral disease made it "unethical" for the Games to go ahead.

They also said WHO should revisit its Zika guidance.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says there is no reason to delay or move the Games.

The Zika outbreak that began in Brazil a year ago has now spread to more than 60 countries and territories through transmission.

The letter is signed by 150 international scientists, doctors and medical ethicists from such institutions as Oxford University and Harvard and Yale universities in the United States.