Zika, likely to pose public health risk during Olympics

The Emergency Committee (EC) convened by the World Health Organisation has noted that mass gatherings, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, can bring together substantial numbers of susceptible individuals, and can pose a risk to the individuals themselves, can result in the amplification of transmission and can, potentially, contribute to the international spread of a communicable disease depending on its epidemiology, the risk factors present and the mitigation strategies that are in place.

In the context of Zika virus, the Committee noted that the individual risks in areas of transmission are the same whether or not a mass gathering is conducted, and can be minimized by good public health measures.

Advisors to the Committee provided further information on the potential risks of Zika virus transmission associated with mass gatherings and the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games, scheduled for August and September 2016, respectively, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The committee’s advice to WHO on the prevention of infection in international travellers for the Olympic state that pregnant women should be advised not to travel to areas of ongoing Zika virus outbreaks; pregnant women whose sexual partners live in or travel to areas with Zika virus outbreaks should ensure safe sexual practices or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy.

Nigerian Olympic athletes, officials and other people travelling for the games are expected to adhere to the recommendations by the Emergency Committee, in ensuring there is no importation of the zika virus to the country on their return from the games.

David Oyeleye, a professor of virology at the University of Ibadan had also told BusinessDay there is a need to increase surveillance both at airports, and at the seaports.

Oyeleye reiterated that incoming vessels and aircraft need to be sprayed with appropriate chemicals to ensure proper decontamination in the event disease carrying pathogens have been ferried from different destinations such as Brazil where the zika outbreak has taken an international dimension in public health emergency.

 

Caleb Ojewale