Top scientists call for postponement of Rio Olympics in urgent letter to WHO due to Zika virus

They warn of a possible pandemic if athletes infected with virus

125 top scientists have sent a letter of warning to the World Health Organisation (WHO), asking for the postponement of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games or their transport to another city due to the grave threat the Zika virus poses. In their letter, the scientists, many of whom are from the most prestigious institutions on the world like Oxford, Harvard and Yale, note that the new findings of the virus would make going ahead with the Rio Olympics ‘unethical’ and call on the WHO to urgently take action. The IOC released a statement March arguing it saw no reason to postpone or transfer the games to a different location.