Amid all the political corruption that has been gripping the nation for the past couple decades, an outbreak of a crucial health-related nightmare has been putting a damper on possibly the most anticipated international sporting event in the next couple of months.
It has been circulated in the news for the past 6 months or so, that the Zika-virius has put a darkening cloud on this year’s upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Olympic athletes stretching from around the globe are wary of the virus ahead of the Rio Games. Alas, every Olympics that’s in a different location presents itself with a set of issues.
The Salt Lake Tribune caught up with American swimming star Natalie Coughlin. “”There’s always things that are beyond our control at the Olympic Games,” said Coughlin, a 12-time Olympic medalist. “This is just one of them.”
Now considered as a eyebrow-raising epidemic in both Central America and South America, the World Health Organization (WHO) is on the verge of having the virus considered as a world health emergency.
According to the Center for the Diseases Control and Prevention, people who have the Zika virus may show “symptoms of fever, rashes, joint pain or conjuctivitis (red eyes)”.
Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee has been working closely with the Center for the Diseases Control and Prevention, as well with the World Health Organization, who both are active in getting information to athletes about the disease.
In the same article of the Salt Lake Tribune, Scott Blackmun believes that every athlete should be educated about the disease and at the end of the day, has earned the right to go and compete. “We want to communicate and educate,” Blackmun said Monday. “It’s their Olympic Games. They’re the ones who qualify for it.”
Preemptive plans to mitigate any kind of scenario that involves the Zika-virus are about to be underway. Blackmun said the U.S. Olympic Committee will supply mosquito netting, insect repellent and will stress the importance of avoiding standing water, all of which can lessen the chances of infection.
Natalie Coughlin has offered her advice to many athletes around the globe in saying that everyone should carefully study about the virus before making any plans to go.
Back home, it has been reported constantly that there have been cases in the U.S., more specifically in Florida. And it is only a matter of time that the virus will be knocking on our door. Fortunately, there has been word that there will be a vaccine for the virus going under safety trials this fall.
References That Have Helped Me Write This Article Are:
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3630186-155/olympics-american-athletes-wary-of-zika?page=1
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/
-Nicholas
