The mosquito-borne Zika virus may be running rampant throughout Brazil, but many tourists in Rio de Janeiro for the world famous Carnival remain undaunted.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (January 28) the Zika virus, linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil, is “spreading explosively” and may infect 3 to 4 million people in the Americas, including 1.5 million in Brazil.
Still, all seemed calm in a rainy Rio on Thursday.
Peter Vidal who travelled here from the United Kingdom said he was aware of the virus, but not put off by it.
“Well, what we hear on the news in Europe, it scares you but it doesn’t stop people from coming, you know. Beautiful place to come to,” he said.
Ben Wimn is from the U.S. state of Alaska.
“No, I’m not afraid at all,” he said.
However, the fear of the virus has led more people to stop by their local pharmacy to pick up mosquito repellant.
Regina Bianchi, a Rio-based pharmacist, said they are struggling to keep up with demand.
“(Sales) went up a lot. It is starting to normalise now. The most recommended brand, which gives the longest-lasting protection, was sold out everywhere and when we got some in — I got 240 units — and it didn’t even last two days (before selling out). So a lot of people are after it,” she said.
A resident of Rio, Andrea Briseno, said she and her family are doing whatever they can to protect themselves, even looking beyond repellants.
“I don’t think repellant is helping that much. We’re trying to find other ways, like using screens (in windows) at home. Using citronella-based poisons, sprays, aerosols. You’ve got to try,” Briseno said.
The International Olympic Committee has said it will issue guidelines this week aimed at protecting athletes and visitors from Zika ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Games in August.
Rio 2016 organisers said the Games, from Aug. 5 to 21, will be during Brazil’s winter months when a “dryer, cooler climate significantly reduces the presence of mosquitoes”.
They added Zika will be discussed at a meeting with NOCs at IOC headquarters in Lausanne from February 1-2.
Zika has been clinically linked to a foetal deformation known as microcephaly, in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and brains.
The virus, a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya, causes rash, mild fever and red eyes. Some 80 percent of those infected typically do not have symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to determine if they have the virus. No vaccine or treatment is currently available.
The WHO said Zika cases have been reported in 23 countries and territories in the Americas in the current outbreak. Brazil has been the nation most affected.
The Pan American Health Organization said Aedes mosquitoes are found in all countries in the Americas except Canada and continental Chile, and the virus will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found. (Reuters)
