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Fear of Zika virus could keep U.S. athletes away from Olympics

The message was given in a conference call in late January between officials with the USOC and leaders of U.S. sports federations, according to two people who participated in the calls.

Donald Anthony, president and board chairman of USA Fencing, said the sports bodies were told by the USOC that no one should go to Brazil “if they don’t feel comfortable going – bottom line,” according to Reuters.

The conference call and briefing given by the USOC is only the latest indication that Olympic officials are taking the Zika virus outbreak during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games very seriously, acknowledging that at least some athletes and sports staff might not want to attend the games. It’s a very tough decision to make.

Should the United States not send athletes to the Summer Games, it would cause a great disruption because the U.S. took home the most medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The spread of the Zika virus has global health authorities on high alert. Zika virus has been linked to a birth defect, microencephaly in newborns in Brazil. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international health emergency on Feb. 1, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised pregnant women or those women who plan on getting pregnant to avoid traveling to places where the Zika virus is present.

Canada and the United States have also issued recommendations to blood donors on avoiding giving blood if they have traveled to areas where Zika is present in order to protect blood supplies. Since then, Brazil has confirmed that two cases of the Zika virus were transmitted through blood transfusions. In one of the two cases, genetic sequencing confirmed the transmission of the virus through the blood transfusion, according to Digital Journal.

Fox News is reporting that USOC spokesman Mark Jones confirmed by email that Alan Ashley, its chief of sport performance, had “briefed federation leaders on the CDC’s recommendations and we will continue to ensure that athletes and officials affiliated with Team USA receive any updates from the CDC.”

The USOC has not issued its own set of recommendations but is relying on what the WHO and CDC have been reporting. Athletes and support staff are commending the USOC for being forthright in letting U.S. athletes know what is going on.

Will Connell, Director of Sport at the U.S. Equestrian Federation, said the USOC was leaving the decision to attend or not attend the Olympics up to individual athletes. “They said no one who has reasons to be concerned should feel obliged to go,” Connell said. “If an athlete feels that way, of course, they may decide not to go.”

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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