The Federal Government had said that the threat of Zika virus in North America will not stop the Nigerian contingent from attending the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
The government however barred pregnant women in the contingent from embarking on the trip to Rio de Janeiro because of the high risks involved in contracting the virus. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who stated this during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, said there were no substantial grounds to stop the Nigerian Olympic Team from attending the event. He said, “Should we discourage the Nigerian contingent from going to Brazil? The answer is ‘no’, because there are no sufficient grounds to discourage them. But I will discourage pregnant women from going. All I have to advise the contingent is that they should protect themselves. Zika virus is now in the UK, the real challenge is to be on alert. “I advise all Nigerians, particularly pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries infected by this virus this period. If however, you are to visit any country where Zika virus is now being actively transmitted, you are advised to protect yourselves from mosquito bites.”
 

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