Rousseff says Zika won’t jeopardise Olympics

“We are certain of one thing: We will have the Olympic Games and we’re taking action to make sure of it,” Rousseff told reporters after visiting a community in Rio de Janeiro to launch a campaign of preventive action, and where she was asked about an eventual cancellation of the sports spectacular. 

In reply, Rousseff said “Zika does not jeopardise the games”, and in combating the virus, “some cities will have priority like Rio de Janeiro”, which will host next August the biggest sports event in the world. 

During the press conference, the head of state asked that more action be taken against the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever, Chikungunya and Zika, the latter associated by scientists with the current increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads. 

“We’re working with the University of Texas and in a joint action with the US government in an effort to make sure the research finds a vaccine as soon as possible,” the president said.