Dr Giles Warrington warns of ‘alarm’ over Zika virus

Differing views on the Zika virus continue to threaten some competitor participation at this summer’s Rio Olympics although according to Dr Giles Warrington of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) it is simply too soon to tell.

With just 150 days to go before the opening ceremony on August 5th, the OCI are concluding all pre-Games preparations, and Warrington is just back from a final recce to Brazil, including the Irish training camp at Uberlândia, a 90-minute flight from Rio. The issue of the Zika virus is unmistakable live throughout the country and yet Warrington has warned against becoming too “alarmist” at this stage.

“I think it would be very inappropriate for athletes to be making calls about whether they compete or they don’t compete . . . It’s too early to make that call. Things can change quite dramatically, and it’s important we just keep our finger on the pulse.

“I think it’s a bit like the pollution issue before Beijing. We need to be informing, but not alarmists, and not make any rash judgements or calls until we actually see what pans out.

Infectious disease expert

“Our medical team has been working very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the HSE, but also within our medical group, Dr Jack Lambert, who is based in the Mater, is an infectious disease expert, and also Dr David Feagan, who is based in Australia, and has worked in that area, will be one of our doctors in Rio as well. All the evidence at this stage suggests is that it’s a summer issue, it terms of the mosquito-borne issue, and the Games are going to be in their winter.”

At most risk, it would appear, are female athletes, given the Zika links to the dramatic increase in Brazil in cases of microcephaly , a rare birth defect which sees babies born with unusually small heads and lasting developmental problems.

Almost 4,000 cases of microcephaly were reported in Brazil in just over three months from October to December of last year, compared to fewer than 150 in all of 2014.

Warrington has been part of the OCI backroom for the past three Olympics and will act as team manager for the pre-Games training camp at Uberlândia, with team sponsors Electric Ireland providing additional support.

“At the moment there is a lot of alarm and concern being spread, and there is new information coming out all the time. For example, in Uberlândia, and we were just there, there was actually no evidence of mosquitoes. Only one or two people got an isolated bite. At the same time I think it’s important we take the issue very seriously, make sure we provide the appropriate information.

The coach of British gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill has said she should consider whether to defend her heptathlon title , and USA goalkeeper Hope Solo says she would not go unless the Zika virus was under control. However Irish rower Sinead Jennings – a doctor – has indicated she would compete as things stand.

The talk of political and economic unrest also threatening the smooth running of the Games is something Warrington is not worried about: “I don’t think there is any issue of panic. A lot of the facilities were already in place and I certainly didn’t pick that up. There is always that frenetic rush around in the build up to every Games.”