Rio Olympic Warm Up Pool Battles Mosquito Infestation In Face Of Zika

The Maria Lenk Trophy was declared an overall success as a test event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, but the outdoor warm up pool is battling a mosquito infestation.

The news is particularly concerning, given that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency in Brazil and Latin America due to the Zika virus, which is chiefly spread by mosquitos.

There is no treatment for Zika; symptoms include fever, rashes, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, and conjunctivitis. The virus is especially dangerous to pregnant women, causing microcephaly (which can lead to brain damage and birth defects) in newborns.

When the health emergency was declared, Dr. Joao Grangeiro, Rio’s medical director, said that athletes will not be at risk and should come to the Games.

Brazilian 2016 Olympic teamer Leonardo de Deus was one of the competitors who complained of the infestation at the Maria Lenk Trophy, the second of Brazil’s two Olympic qualifiers, saying that the outdoor warm up pool “had a ton of mosquitos.”

The organizers of the Games plan on covering the outdoor warm up pool with an air conditioned tent come August, which should help some with the mosquito problem, although some athletes may still be nervous about their health going into the event.

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Captain Ahab
8 years ago

Under Armour reps! Quick develop a mosquito resistant light weight full sleeve and pants for Olympic athletes combating mosquitos during the Olympics.

Concerned
8 years ago

Take the games to London. Brazil can’t afford the games. We are jeopardizing the safety of athletes with this mess.

Jair
8 years ago

Now, any mosquito is a zika mosquito just like any bee is a killer bee.

Joel Lin
8 years ago

Money problems, corruption, delays, shortcuts, secutity issues and now a real health threat.

I guess the question now is; do they have enough money to tent and air condition the warm up pool area? Should we be looking out for a GoFundMe Rio 2016 page?

Fred Magyar
8 years ago

There is something seriously off about this report! There is no way that any mosquitoes can survive in a swimming pool that is treated with chlorine… I travel regularly to Brazil and I have never heard of mosquitoes in well maintained pools at hotels and clubs or private homes. I’m pretty sure treated swimming pools in Rio are not breeding grounds for any mosquitoes unless their larvae have somehow become resistant to chlorine.

Joel Lin
Reply to  Fred Magyar
8 years ago

Not in the pool — in the pool surrounding area.

8 years ago

seems like the Olympics are being held in a tropical sewer.

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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