NOC issues Zika warning to Team Nigeria
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has warned athletes, officials and other travelers to Brazil for next month’s 2016 Olympic Games to take precautionary measures in order not to contact and transmit the Zika virus.
Many notable athletes have pulled out of the 2016 Summer Olympics which begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 -21 and the Paralympic Games scheduled for September 7 -18 due to the dreaded virus.
In a statement yesterday, through its Medical and Scientific Commission, the NOC said there was need to take measures that would prevent the spread of Zika virus prior, during and after the Rio 2016 Games.
The Chairman of the NOC Medical and Scientific Commission, Dr Akin Amao said that it has become important for every Nigerian going to Brazil to embrace the guidelines issued by WHO to prevent the spread of Zika virus in the context of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The guidelines, according to Amao, prohibit pregnant women from traveling to Brazil, while travellers for the games are to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent and protective clothing among others.