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Kenya threaten to pull athletes out of Rio Olympics over Zika virus

Published 11:54 9 Feb 2016 GMT

Gareth Makim
Kenya threaten to pull athletes out of Rio Olympics over Zika virus

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The ongoing concern over the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil is giving Olympic officials a major headache just six months from the start of the Games in Rio.

Kenya are the latest nation to express their fears over the disease, which is believed to be responsible for a spike in birth defects in Brazil, and the WHO have declared the outbreak a global health emergency. The head of the country's Olympic Committee, Kipchoge Keino, has said the country will not send a team to Rio if the virus, which is transmitted by infected mosquitos, reaches "epidemic levels". Kenya remains a world power in athletics, winning 11 medals in the sport at London 2012, including world 800m record holder David Rudisha. Brazilian officials have told potential visitors to the country that, except in the case of pregnant women, the risks are low. Australia, New Zealand and the USA have already come out and stated that they wold support any of their competitors or staff members who choose not to travel to the Games.

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Kenya threaten to pull athletes out of Rio Olympics over Zika virus