100 Top Doctors say 'Rio Games should be moved or postponed'

[baron-pierreIV]

Besides, the virus has already spread to other countries -- so it's not like it can still be contained. It's just women of a certain child-bearing age who should stay away. Or like I did in my trip last month, just use insect-repellant, and go outside only if you really have to.

[woohooitsme83]

No wonder I do not post on these boards any more in great number. You cannot reason with Olympic fanatics. Even if WW3 broke out in Latin America this summer, we'd still hear calls of "that's life".

Big world out there folks. Bigger than even the Olympic Games. Back into your bubbles, though.

lol WW3 can't be compared to the Zika virus. You can't exactly bug spray war away.

[paul]

What a mess.

....perhaps if the Pandemic had reached Europe sooner it would be taken more seriously be the IOC. Guess we will need to wait till after Rio for that to set in.

Edited May 28, 2016 by paul

[Quaker2001]

No wonder I do not post on these boards any more in great number. You cannot reason with Olympic fanatics. Even if WW3 broke out in Latin America this summer, we'd still hear calls of "that's life".

Big world out there folks. Bigger than even the Olympic Games. Back into your bubbles, though.

Yup, all us irresponsible Olympic fanatics can't see the bigger picture. Good for us the WHO can..

WHO rejects call to move Rio Olympics because of Zika virus

A couple of interesting paragraphs from that..

the WHO rejected the idea and said that suspending the Olympics or staging them elsewhere would “not significantly alter” the spread of the virus, which is linked to serious birth defects.

The World Health Organisation issued a global health emergency about Zika in February, but it has not called for travel restrictions beyond advising pregnant women not to travel to affected areas, such as Rio de Janeiro. In a press conference in the Olympic city earlier this year, a WHO team lead by director Margaret Chan said the risks should be lower in August, which is winter for Brazil and has a far lower prevalence of mosquito borne diseases.

This is not something that is being swept under the rug or being ignored. Those calling for the cancellation of the have to ask themselves what they hope to accomplish with that. It's not like people are going to stop traveling to Brazil or other areas affected by Zika. It's not going to stop this virus from spreading. If athletes or spectators are concerned about the risks, then they shouldn't go. But let them make that decision. Don't make it for them by telling everyone they shouldn't go to Brazil when that's not going to solve the problem of containing Zika.

[paul]

.....seems like anything that increases the spread can't be a positive, especial if your family happens to be unlucky enough to have a baby later with a shrunken head like 5000 families in Brazil.

Edited May 28, 2016 by paul

[Faster]

What a mess.

....perhaps if the Pandemic had reached Europe sooner it would be taken more seriously be the IOC. Guess we will need to wait till after Rio for that to set in.

That is the distribution map of the carrier mosquito species. Not the spread of the disease.

Just some numbers.

In Brazil the rate of birth defects due to Zika is 0.23%

Malaria is responsible for upwards of 200,000 infant deaths per year.

Best estimates of infection of Zika are 3.2 infections per 100,000 tourist. So we are talking about at most 30 cases of Zika if you have a statistical out layer result.

Since the majority of visitors will be from the blue parts of not Zika-mosquito area, the likelihood of passing the virus is extremely small. There are no known cases of a none Aegyptius mosquito carrying Zika.

So overall risk is incredibly small.

Edited May 28, 2016 by Faster

[Quaker2001]

.....seems like anything that increases the spread can't be a positive, especial if your family happens to be unlucky enough to have a baby later with a shrunken head like 5000 families in Brazil.

But then the question becomes is it worth cancelling the entire Olympics to try and manage it? I think we all get it's an interesting tightrope with all the political and financial ramifications of what's being considered. Most of the people who would travel to Brazil for an Olympics have the option to not go if they're uncomfortable with the concerns over Zika. Much like hiring additional security to prevent against a terrorist attack, seems like for most, Zika is an acceptable risk that can't be eliminated, but shouldn't be cause to cancel the entire event, let alone prevent travel to and from Brazil.

[Cauê]

No wonder I do not post on these boards any more in great number. You cannot reason with Olympic fanatics. Even if WW3 broke out in Latin America this summer, we'd still hear calls of "that's life".

Big world out there folks. Bigger than even the Olympic Games. Back into your bubbles, though.

You're right. If you talk about the other side of the torch relay, you are an "idiot". If you show the serious political crisis in Brazil, you are an "idiot".

Fanatics want to see party, only. It's like a bubble.

[paul]

Among the letter's signatories are experts from more than two dozen countries in fields including public health, bioethics and pediatrics. The letter also noted a potential conflict of interest, highlighting the decades-long collaboration between WHO and the International Olympic Committee.

The authors said the "overly close" relationship "was last affirmed in 2010 at an event where the Director-General of WHO and president of the IOC signed a memorandum of understanding, which is secret because neither has disclosed it."

They also pointed to a group that WHO established to help cities not only with health advice, but to potentially help them bid for major events including the Olympics.

"WHO cannot credibly assess the public health risks of Zika and the Olympics when it sets neutrality aside," the letter stated.

[FlaBadger]

Just to be snitty --- did you look them up? Notice that most of them are in fields like bioethics, sociology, etc. Did you also notice that they are almost all labeled "Prof." and not "Dr.", Know why? Because they aren't doctors.

When the WHO says to shut down, it'll mean something. As am American, when the CDC says shut it down, it'll mean something. But those folks have studied it and haven't called for the games cancellation.

Exactly. While this letter is getting a lot of attention, looking behind it, there seems no independent research or analysis whatsoever. Rather, what you seem to have is an attention-grabbing Ottawa associate professor making hysterical claims and demands, under a mantra of "speaking truth to power," who then tries to back up his unreasoned and unreasonable position by getting random other persons-of-letters to sign on, petition-style, soliciting signatories, most likely unvetted, via Twitter: https://twitter.com/profamirattaran?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor.

Of course, the media buys into this hook-line-and-sinker, as the signatories all have degrees in something or other, so they, therefore, must be "experts."

[FAAN]

Reuters

WHO rejects call for Olympics to be moved due to Zika

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday rejected a call for the Rio Olympic Games to be moved or postponed due to the threat posed by a large outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil.

Responding to a call from more than 100 leading scientists, who said it would be unethical for the Games to go ahead as scheduled, the United Nations health agency said having the Games in Rio as planned would "not significantly alter" the spread of Zika, which is linked to serious birth defects.

"Based on the current assessment of Zika virus circulating in almost 60 countries globally and 39 in the Americas, there is no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the games," the WHO said in a statement.

[...]

Complete article: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-who-idUSKCN0YJ06U

[ofan]

No wonder I do not post on these boards any more in great number. You cannot reason with Olympic fanatics. Even if WW3 broke out in Latin America this summer, we'd still hear calls of "that's life".

Big world out there folks. Bigger than even the Olympic Games. Back into your bubbles, though.

lmfao

[Faiyez]

No wonder I do not post on these boards any more in great number. You cannot reason with Olympic fanatics. Even if WW3 broke out in Latin America this summer, we'd still hear calls of "that's life".

Big world out there folks. Bigger than even the Olympic Games. Back into your bubbles, though.

Shows what you know!

[BTHarner]

You will not see another story mentioning both Rio and Zika after August 21st. The media will then start to dig up some dirt on Pyeongchang (Geez, my spellcheck doesn't even recognize Pyeongchang as a word)

[Quaker2001]

You will not see another story mentioning both Rio and Zika after August 21st. The media will then start to dig up some dirt on Pyeongchang (Geez, my spellcheck doesn't even recognize Pyeongchang as a word)

Not true. Zika isn't going to cease to be an issue in certain parts of the world (particularly Brazil) after the Olympics. So we'll still hear about it. We just won't hear stories mentioning Rio, Zika, AND the Olympics after August 21st the Paralympics . Much as the world ceased to give a crap about the issues in Sochi after the Olympics ended since it didn't affect anyone else in the world.

[BTHarner]

Thank you for re-stating my point the way it was intended. By no means do I believe stories about Zika in general will disappear.

[Sir Rols]

A postscript, of sorts, to the biggest fear issue in some quarters leading up to the games: 

Zika virus: World Health Organisation declares end to public health emergency

[zekekelso]

As far as I know, the total number of Zika cases attributed to the Olympics is... zero. I wonder how many of those 100 "top doctors" have apologized. 

[Quaker2001]

3 hours ago, zekekelso said:

As far as I know, the total number of Zika cases attributed to the Olympics is... zero. I wonder how many of those 100 "top doctors" have apologized. 

Check page 1 of the thread for some of your responses back in May.  The title of the thread is incorrect.  It wasn't 100 top doctors.  It was "152 experts," many of whom are professors, not doctors.  I doubt you'll see them apologize, considering the World Health Organization passed them off as rabble-rousers.  The WHO knew better.  No surprise there.  Would love to get some commentary from Michelle though, since us "Olympic fanatics" were just living in our bubbles 

[Ikarus360]

So much for the experts. Another sickness which was blown out of proportion, just like Ebola. I can't wait to see which one they're going to exploit next in order to make more profit. 

[JMarkSnow2012]

12 hours ago, Ikarus360 said:

So much for the experts. Another sickness which was blown out of proportion, just like Ebola. I can't wait to see which one they're going to exploit next in order to make more profit. 

Of course there is also the aspect that awareness of danger creates caution which reduces the incidence ...