With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil only three months away and the Zika and dengue outbreaks running rampant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice last week for spectators of the games and the September Paralympics and offered advice for keeping healthy.
Brazil, along with many destinations in the Americas, is experiencing an outbreak of Zika virus. The Zika outbreak in Brazil is dynamic and recommendations may be adjusted.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as of May 5, Brazil has reported more than 120,000 suspected and confirmed Zika virus cases.
What may be more troubling, the UN health agency reports more than 800,000 probable and confirmed dengue fever cases in Brazil during the first third of 2016, including 140 fatalities.
The CDC recommends that you contact your healthcare provider 4–6 weeks before you depart to Brazil to discuss vaccines, medicines and other preventive measures such as avoiding consuming contaminated food and water, preventing mosquito bites, STD prevention and others.
The 2016 Summer Olympics take place August 5 to August 21, 2016. The Paralympic Games are scheduled for September 7 to September 18, 2016.
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