WHO rejects call to postpone Rio Olympics over Zika outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has rejected a call to move or postpone the Rio Olympic Games because of the Zika virus outbreak.
The organisation said postponing this summer's Games would not "significantly alter" the spread of the virus.
More than 100 scientists wrote an open letter to the WHO saying the 2016 Games should be moved to another location at the very least in order to prevent the further spread of Zika, which has been linked to babies being born with abnormally small heads.
"An unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic," the scientists wrote.
The letter was signed by doctors, scientists and medical ethicists from institutions such as Oxford University and Harvard.
However, the WHO said in a statement: "Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes.
"People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice."
The WHO's position was echoed by Dr Tom Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics," he said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also said it sees no reason to delay or move the Games because of the zika outbreak, which the WHO has declared a global public health emergency.
A spokeswoman for the British Olympics Association (BOA) said the organisation would continue to monitor the situation and would advise athletes accordingly.
"Based on the information currently available, the BOA is continuing to develop its plans for Team GB's pre-Games training camp and the Games, and is pro-actively supporting sports and athletes with all aspects of their preparations," she said.