As the Rio Olympics approach, to ensure the safety and health of our athletes and delegation members, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) and the Sports Administration have been in close discussion to formulate guidance about the Zika virus. During the 2016 Olympics, the Sports Administration will organize a medical team to provide comprehensive health care to the national team athletes, while Taiwan CDC will continue to monitor the latest development of the ongoing Zika outbreak in Brazil in order to ensure the safety and health of our athletes.

The Rio Olympics will take place from August 5 to 21, 2016. Our delegation comprises of over 100 people. As Brazil is one of the countries/territories with ongoing transmission of Zika virus, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Zika Virus invited the Sports Administration to attend the outbreak preparedness and response strategy meeting and share their plans for the prevention, evaluation, management, treatment, and rehabilitation of athlete injuries and illnesses during the Olympic Games. Medical officers from Taiwan CDC also participated in the meeting. Taiwan CDC and the Sports Administration are working closely in preparation for the large-scale sporting event.

Since the Zika outbreak was first reported in Brazil in February 2015, as of the end of April 2016, approximately 12,000 cases have been confirmed in 27 administrative districts in the country. Only Santa Catarina in southern Brazil has not reported any cases. The Olympic Games will be taking place in southeastern Brazil, which is not the administrative district with the highest Zika prevalence rate. Nonetheless, the district has reported 25,000 cases, accounting for 28% of the total cases confirmed in Brazil. 　　

The World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out that since the 2016 Olympics will take place during Brazil’s winter, the risk of mosquito bites is lowered. Nevertheless, the risk of Zika transmission cannot be eliminated. Hence, people visiting Brazil are still urged to take prevention measures against mosquito bites.

Taiwan CDC advises athletes, delegation members and travelers attending the Rio Olympics to take precautions against mosquito bites, stay at accommodations with air conditioning, avoid visiting areas with poor sanitation, and use condoms when having sex for at least 28 days after their return from the affected area. Pregnant women and women planning pregnancy are urged to postpone all unnecessary travels to Zika-affected areas.