WHO Emergency Panel to Meet in June on Zika and Olympics: Spokeswoman

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are displayed at an exhibition on Jan. 28 in Brazil. The mosquitoes can be carriers of the Zika virus.
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reuters.com - by STEPHANIE NEBEHAY and BILL BERKROT - June 3, 2016

With debate growing over the safety of holding the Olympics in Brazil amid the ongoing Zika virus outbreak, the World Health Organization's Emergency Committee on Zika will meet in the coming weeks to evaluate the risks tied to going on with the Games in August, a WHO spokeswoman said on Friday.

"The Emergency Committee meeting will consider the situation in Brazil, including the question of the Olympics," WHO spokeswoman Nyka Alexander told Reuters in response to a query.

WHO makes risk assessments of a public health issue and it would be up to the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to decide on holding the event in Rio de Janeiro, due to start on Aug. 5, she said.

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ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - The Sydney Morning Herald - WHO emergency panel to meet in June on Zika and Olympics

ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - The Telegraph - Emergency panel on Zika and Rio Olympics risk will take place, says UN agency