Anti-Zika Kit For Mexico's Olympians Due to Zika Fears

An anti-Zika kit including mosquito repellent, antibacterial hand gel and condoms was given to Mexican athletes who are at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to the little black bag, two epidemiologists will travel with the Mexican Olympic delegation, which includes 124 athletes, coaches and doctors, the health ministry said Monday.

‘In order to avoid any infection, deputy health minister, recommended that athletes use the repellent twice a day during the August 5-21 Games.’

The country's football players, who will play in northern Brazil, were vaccinated against yellow fever.

Pablo Kuri, a deputy health minister, recommended that athletes use the repellent twice a day during the August 5-21 Games.

More than 900 Zika cases have been reported in Mexico so far. By contrast, 1.5 million have been infected with the virus in Brazil.

While Zika is mainly delivered by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, it has also been shown to transmit through sexual contact.

The virus usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms, but it can also trigger birth defects in babies born to infected mothers. Zika also has been shown able to trigger paralysis/Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Source: AFP