American Olympians did not contract Zika in Rio

Americans participating in the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, tested positive for several mosquito-borne infections after returning home, although none contracted Zika virus, according to a study presented Oct. 7 at ID Week 2017 in San Diego.

Advertisement

For the study, researchers with the University of Utah Health Care in Salt Lake City — one of three hospitals named to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s National Medical Network — tested 457 blood samples from Olympic athletes and staff after they returned from Brazil. Thirty-two of the individuals tested positive for mosquito-borne viruses, with 27 testing positive for West Nile. Additionally, three tested positive for Chikungunya, and two tested positive for Dengue. None tested positive for Zika.

“Everyone was concentrating on Zika and ignoring that there could be other infections caused by mosquito bites,” said Dr. Krow Ampofo, an infectious disease specialist with UUHC and the study’s presenter. “We did not expect to find so many with these other infections. That is one of the reasons why we think that being vigilant about monitoring for infectious diseases after travel to at-risk areas is so important.”

More articles on infection control: 
APIC’s ABCs of antibiotic prescribing 
San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak now at 18 deaths 
14 sickened with mumps at Syracuse University

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.