Zika virus may halt Olympics as WHO calls emergency meeting for explosive spread of the virus

'The possible links, only recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika, from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.'

Zika virus spreads so quickly and leaves such devastating effects on babies that Rio's Olympics may be cancelled. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called an emergency meeting following explosive outbreaks.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to WHO, an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika Virus meeting was announced on Thursday.

The announcement read: "WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, will convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations.

"The Committee will meet on Monday 1 February in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Decisions concerning the Committee's membership and advice will be made public on WHO's website."

The Zika virus outbreak began in May 2015, when Brazil reported its first case. Since that date, Zika has spread to 22 other countries and territories and has left babies with abnormally small heads, leading to severe brain damage and neurological syndromes.

The CDC reported Zika is spread through mosquito bites, from pregnant mothers to their children either during pregnancy or at the time of birth. Specifically, the CDC admitted "We do not know how often Zika is transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth."

According to Daily Mail, over 4,000 infants were born with shrunken heads. 

With so many women giving birth to unhealthy children, Russian and Australian officials have expressed concerns for women preparing to compete in Rio's Olympics this August. The risk of contracting Zika is so high that airlines around the world have been offering pregnant women to swap or refund their tickets to avoid Brazil and other infected areas.

Isaac Bogoch, a tropical infectious disease specialist, admitted Rio was the perfect location for mosquitos to breed as it is full of standing water.

"It is the perfect set-up for proliferation," Bogoch said. The Zika virus "can keep spreading until we find a way to contain the virus or keep the mosquitos from transmitting it," he added.

Several medical professionals warned Zika has "explosive pandemic potential," and is believed to be able to spread on a global scale, resulting with up to 4 million infected people.

The dangers of Zika have kept spectators and Olympic teams alike worried about travelling to Rio
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The Austrian Olympic Committee stated: "All females of child-bearing age need to be aware of the specific risks of microcephaly in newborns, should the mother become infected during pregnancy. Following the recently updated DFAT guidelines, any team members who are pregnant at the time of the Games need to consider the risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with travel to Brazil."

The British Olympic Association spokesperson announced: "As part of Team GB's overall planning, our medical team has been liaising with specialists at the London School of Tropical Medicine, to ensure that team members are given the most up-to-date travel medicine advice, which includes information on bite prevention strategies. This information has already been shared with all sports and it will be continually updated prior to departure for the Olympic Games."

There is currently no vaccine for the Zika virus and all recent efforts to eradicate the mosquito population have failed. 

Brazil's health minister, Mercelo Castro, was forced to admit, "We are losing the battle in a big way."

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