Pau Gasol Contemplating Sitting out Rio 2016 Olympics Due to Zika Virus Concerns

Chicago Bulls and Spanish national forward Pau Gasol is considering forgoing the 2016 Rio Olympics because of ongoing concerns over Brazil’s issues in containing the Zika virus.

“It wouldn’t surprise me to see some athletes deciding not to participate in the games to avoid putting their health and the health of their families at risk,” Gasol said, per Tales Azzoni of the Associated Press. “I’m thinking about (whether or not to go). Just like every athlete, or any other person considering going to Rio, should be thinking about it.”

The Zika virus is usually mild, with the vast majority of people presenting no symptoms, according to Infectious Diseases Society of America spokesperson Amesh Adalja. The presenting symptoms are typically limited to “fever, rash, joint pain and redness in the whites of the eye,” per WebMD, but Zika has also been tied to Guillain-Barre syndrome—a far more severe disease that can cause paralysis.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus but can also be transmitted through sexual contact or blood transfusions. The CDC currently grades Brazil’s Zika problem a Level 2, meaning travelers are to “practice enhanced …

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