Rio Olympics 'should be postponed' over Zika virus

The Rio Olympics should be postponed over the Zika outbreak, more than 100 scientists have warned.

At the very least the 2016 Games should be moved to another location, an open letter to the World Health Organization said.

They claim going ahead with the games would be "unethical" as the "Brazilian strain of Zika harms health in ways that science has not observed before."

The virus has been linked to serious birth defects including abnormally small heads in babies.

The letter also called for WHO to reconsider its advice on the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It said the biggest risk was if athletes contracted the virus and returned home to poor countries that have not yet suffered a Zika outbreak.

Last month the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it saw no reason to delay or move the games due to Zika.

But the group of 125 scientists from institutions such as Oxford University and Harvard and Yale in the US, disagree.

They recommend WHO appoint an independent group to advise it and the IOC in a "transparent, evidence-based process in which science, public health and the spirit of sport come first".

"Given the public health and ethical consequences, not doing so is irresponsible," it said.

The Zika outbreak began a year ago and has now spread to more than 60 countries.

While the UK is deemed to be low risk, there are fears the virus could make its way to some parts of Europe by the summer.