Low Risk for Zika Virus Spread by Olympics Attendees

A Zika transmission model predicts that very few cases would be imported to nonendemic areas.

Athletes and visitors planning to attend the Brazil Olympics have expressed worry about contracting Zika virus (ZIKV), and some have canceled their travel plans.

To predict the chances that travelers returning from the Olympics will introduce ZIKV into nonendemic countries, investigators employed a mathematical model of ZIKV transmission in Brazil using data on the number of non-Brazilian attendees (350,000 to 500,000), the probability of becoming infected while in Brazil (1 in 6200 to 1 in 56,300), the average length of stay in Brazil (16 days), the average time from infection to clearance of the virus from the blood (9.9 days), and the attendees' countries of origin (30% from Latin America).

The researchers calculated that 6 to 80 ZIKV infe…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Low Risk for Zika Virus Spread by Olympics Attendees

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Reviewing Author