Brazil Asks Zika-Wary Athletes to Attend Rio Olympic Games
- Minister wrote letters to Nadal, Murray, other top athletes
- Besides Zika, Brazil sees increasing incidence of Chikungunya
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Athletes who said the Zika virus would keep them away from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are receiving a personal letter from Brazil’s health minister asking them to reconsider.
Health Minister Ricardo Barros sent letters to 10 athletes including tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, as well as golfers Jordan Spieth and Marc Leishman, saying that the risk of any of the 500,000 visitors expected in Rio contracting Zika is “basically zero.” He said he hasn’t gotten any responses.