Olympics in Danger

[Azchief32]

Some athletes are speaking out about their fears of the Zika virus in Brazil. One big name ,Pau Gasol, has even said he's out. A contingent of over 100 doctors, scientists, and professors have said that they should move or postpone the games. Only a few countries, to include us would have the infrastructure to pull it off.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/27/health/zika-virus-olympic-games-health-officials-postpone/

 

[jammenz]

Not to mention the political coup that just happened.

 

[pumpdog20]

Too much money for the IOC and NBC, no way they cancel the games.

 

[rossel 33]

Too much money for the IOC and NBC, no way they cancel the games.

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True.... can't let microcephaly, political instability and open sewage get in the way of profits

 

[TarpHawk]

It's like in Jaws, where they won't close Amity Beach during peak tourist season.

 

[brucefan]

Complicating matters is the fact that the World Health Organization has said that canceling the Olympics would not appreciably halt the spread of the zika virus worldwide. That's a big gun in favor of the Games.

 

[hawkssox1]

CDC should step in and put an end to this hypocricy.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

Probably stating the obvious, but wasn't this thought about/discussed before picking Rio for the site of the games? Side note-our male athletes should come prepared with a grab bag o' condoms. Zika isn't the only virus in Rio.

 

[brucefan]

CDC should step in and put an end to this hypocricy.

They have. They recommend pregnant women not attend; they do not recommend canceling or moving the Games.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0226-summer-olympic-games.html

 

[bdg8]

Probably stating the obvious, but wasn't this thought about/discussed before picking Rio for the site of the games? Side note-our male athletes should come prepared with a grab bag o' condoms. Zika isn't the only virus in Rio.

Wasn't Rio awarded the Games several years ago

 

[brucefan]

Wasn't Rio awarded the Games several years ago

In 2009, to be precise.

 

[pumpdog20]

Probably stating the obvious, but wasn't this thought about/discussed before picking Rio for the site of the games? Side note-our male athletes should come prepared with a grab bag o' condoms. Zika isn't the only virus in Rio.

I thought I remember hearing during the London games that the athletes do indeed get a healthy supply of condoms. The athlete village is pretty raunchy.

 

[YoungGun07]

I heard that they have enough for every athlete to have 8 per day, for the full duration of the games.

 

[Hawk3+1]

Well.........They are Olympians after all.

 

[hawkssox1]

They have. They recommend pregnant women not attend; they do not recommend canceling or moving the Games.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0226-summer-olympic-games.html

Not the first time they have been wrong.

 

[24 so far]

Probably stating the obvious, but wasn't this thought about/discussed before picking Rio for the site of the games? Side note-our male athletes should come prepared with a grab bag o' condoms. Zika isn't the only virus in Rio.

As some have pointed out already, they do factor the free condom giveaway into things, and there was some article that said they set a new record by a wide margin on what they will have on hand in the way of condoms. I didn't do the math for number of athletes expected versus the number of condoms provided, but it may very well be 8 per day as stated above (just in case!).

At any rate, I have a couple of friends that are scheduled to go, primarily for the Freestyle Wrestling. I'm not one of those "live in fear and never leave the house" types, but there are plenty of things about that place currently that would definitely make me pause and wonder if this is a wise decision. It could very well go off without a hitch, but it sure looks a bit "shaky" at the moment.

I guess everyone that goes has to ask themselves the same question........"What are the odds"!

 

[CradleKing26]

The spread of Zika is limited by the species of Mosquito which is a suitable vector host. There is some evidence of the virus being spread by sexual contact, but hasn't really been definitively proven and not much is known about this.

The type of mosquito which is a suitable host for local disease transmission is not present in Iowa, but is present in many parts of the southeast USA.

 

[ih8iast8]

One of the Spanish boating (not sure if rowing or sailing) teams already got muggedwhile there. I really hope for the athletes & their families, that this is a safe Olympics.

 

[brucefan]

Not the first time they have been wrong.

Well hell, if you're going to get all tinfoil-hat about it, the scientists who originally made the link between the Zika virus and birth defects could have been wrong. That's a strange hill to take your stand on, but perhaps you can supply specific instances when the CDC has been proven wrong about an epidemiological situation?

 

[ping72]

If I were a younger woman planning to have a family in the future I would be very strongly considering taking a pass.

It's horrible that they are being forced to make this decision: something you have trained your whole life for vs potential serious harm to your unborn children.

That's cruel.

 

[hawkssox1]

Well hell, if you're going to get all tinfoil-hat about it, the scientists who originally made the link between the Zika virus and birth defects could have been wrong. That's a strange hill to take your stand on, but perhaps you can supply specific instances when the CDC has been proven wrong about an epidemiological situation?

Well ok since you asked they were nailed for transporting dangerous mold in zip loc bags,they had "air flow"issues in a lab with anthrax,SARS and monkeypox and the band played on.

 

[1stplacehawk]

I don't think there's enough here to cancel the games. If you're a female that is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, proceed with caution. Otherwise, be smart. Before people jump on me for my opinions, I would like to mention that I have my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and have done work on infectious diseases in the past. Not all scientist agree...

 

[Azchief32]

I don't think there's enough here to cancel the games. If you're a female that is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, proceed with caution. Otherwise, be smart. Before people jump on me for my opinions, I would like to mention that I have my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and have done work on infectious diseases in the past. Not all scientist agree...

Well I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express big shot

 

[artradley]

Some athletes are speaking out about their fears of the Zika virus in Brazil. One big name ,Pau Gasol, has even said he's out. A contingent of over 100 doctors, scientists, and professors have said that they should move or postpone the games. Only a few countries, to include us would have the infrastructure to pull it off.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/27/health/zika-virus-olympic-games-health-officials-postpone/

Time to pick one permanent location, somewhere in the civilized world, and end the constant drama.

 

[ltsimmer]

Why are you guys so concerned about the Zika virus when we have much bigger problems to deal with, mainly which bathroom to use?

 

[1stplacehawk]

Time to pick one permanent location, somewhere in the civilized world, and end the constant drama.

I think this is the best answer

 

[Urohawk]

The spread of Zika is limited by the species of Mosquito which is a suitable vector host. There is some evidence of the virus being spread by sexual contact, but hasn't really been definitively proven and not much is known about this.

The type of mosquito which is a suitable host for local disease transmission is not present in Iowa, but is present in many parts of the southeast USA.

Except it appears it may reach to Iowa.
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/vector/range.html

 

[FineMaterial]

Here is the Olympic rowing course. Really.

 

[FineMaterial]

The sailing course is much better.

 

[Azchief32]

Time to pick one permanent location, somewhere in the civilized world, and end the constant drama.

Dang Art...I thought you were liberal my friend Brazil, Venezuela etc were supposed to be models for us...not to paternalistically look down on.

Seriously though, the IOC would hate this idea cause folks need to get p-a-I-d every four years...much like holding the World Cup in a place (Qatar) that makes hell seem like a nice spring day.

I think they need to go away from the city model and go to the country model like they do with the World Cup. Would be great for cost absorption. It would take some serious last minute planning but we could be ready to do it. Hold the sports in their perspective "hometown"...in this case, wrestling would be in Iowa City

 

[rossel 33]

I don't think there's enough here to cancel the games. If you're a female that is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, proceed with caution. Otherwise, be smart. Before people jump on me for my opinions, I would like to mention that I have my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and have done work on infectious diseases in the past. Not all scientist agree...

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So....I onced talked to a surgeon in the library....oh wait....wrong thread.

 

[IamHawkeye]

If I were a younger woman planning to have a family in the future I would be very strongly considering taking a pass.

It's horrible that they are being forced to make this decision: something you have trained your whole life for vs potential serious harm to your unborn children.

That's cruel.

If a woman got the Zika virus and is not pregnant at that time, then any future pregnancy is in danger of producing the microcephalic child? This is something that I have been wondering about. You say it would? And for how long?

 

[1stplacehawk]

If a woman got the Zika virus and is not pregnant at that time, then any future pregnancy is in danger of producing the microcephalic child? This is something that I have been wondering about. You say it would? And for how long?

They originally said 4 weeks but have since changed it to 8 weeks. Don't get pregnant for 2 months and you should be fine.

 

[Pennstate1985]

Time to pick one permanent location, somewhere in the civilized world, and end the constant drama.

And end graft and corruption on a global scale? Are you crazy?

 

[bman546]

Nothing a little DDT couldn't fix.

 

[bman546]

Bring on The Games!

 

[Azchief32]

Nothing a little DDT couldn't fix.

Actually...this is a true statement.

 

[LaxHawk174]

A good ole fashioned DDT will knock the Zika right out of your system.

 

[GobysHawk]

It's like in Jaws, where they won't close Amity Beach during peak tourist season.

Haha! I thought this very same thing. Lol

 

[Eternal Return]

I think this is the best answer

The only logical place would be Athens.