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Zika represents no Olympic threat, says Rio mayor

Xinhua, January 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes assured on Saturday that the zika virus would not represent any threat for the upcoming Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games will take place in August when Brazil is in winter, a season where "there are no (disease-transmitting) mosquitoes" in the Brazilian city due to the low temperatures, Paes told local media.

"It is obvious that zika is a problem, but it is a problem for us that are here at this moment. It is not a problem for the Olympic Games," explained the mayor, adding the city council is currently working on an intense fumigation plan for the Olympic buildings, stadiums and accommodation.

Brazil is in a state of health emergency due to an outbreak of the zika virus throughout the country. The virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya, causes infected pregnant women to give birth to babies with microcephaly.

Since October 2015, almost 4,200 babies have been born with microcephaly in Brazil. Endi