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In Brazil, which has been hardest hit, Olympics organizers said they are concerned but downplayed fears – one day after the government warned pregnant women not to attend the Games.
“We are sure we will win this battle and it will not affect the Games,” said Rio 2016 organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada.
The Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to 21, during the southern hemisphere winter, which means there will be fewer mosquitoes, organizers stressed.
A Dutch women’s rights group meanwhile offered to send free pills to trigger an abortion to pregnant women in Latin America, a region known for its restrictive abortion laws.
“We are extremely worried that (the outbreak) might cause increasing unsafe abortions,” said Rebecca Gomperts, founder and director of Women on Web.
Since October, Brazil has reported 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly, of which 404 have been confirmed – up from 147 in 2014.
In all, more than 1.5 million Brazilians are estimated to have been infected with Zika.
Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have all warned women not to get pregnant.
Mexico announced it was creating special brigades to address areas likely to have more mosquitoes.
And Peru performed health checks on all Sao Paulo footballers visiting Trujillo for a Copa Libertadores match. They were all clear of Zika, dengue and chikungyuna.
Some health experts urge condom use, while others say abstinence is the only way to avoid Zika.
“Don’t have sex with a virus, it’s that simple,” said Jill Rabin, co-chief of the division of ambulatory care at Women’s Health Programs at Northwell Health in New York.
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