WHO: No Confirmed Zika Cases from Olympics

The World Health Organization reports no confirmed cases of Zika associated with the Rio Olympics.

“The 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro ended on 21 August,” the group informs in an August 25 situation report. “From the reports WHO received from national health authorities, there have so far been no laboratory confirmed cases of Zika virus in anyone associated with the Olympics.”

Golfers Jason Day, Vijay Singh, and Rory McIlroy, cyclist Tejay van Garderen, and tennis stars Milos Raonic, Simona Halep, and Tomas Berdych all cited Zika in opting to skip the Olympics.

U.S. women’s soccer goalie Hope Solo called the International Olympic Committee “irresponsible” for not moving matches from the jungle-surrounded city of Manaus and posted pictures of mosquito repellent and a suit with a screened-in face to illustrate her fears. Brazilian crowds responded by chanting “Zika” when Solo competed.

WHO reports that 70 countries confirm Zika transmissions since 2007. Significantly, 53 countries note a first outbreak occurring since the beginning of 2015. The organization deemed the global spread of the disease because of the Olympics a “very low risk” prior to Rio’s opening ceremonies.