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<p>The British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA)
have prepared guidance to consider the health risks, including those posed by Zika,
for British athletes and staff travelling to Brazil for the Olympics.</p><p> </p><p>The
Department of Health has convened an Olympics health advisory group on behalf of the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport to focus on Zika and to support the BOA and
BPA to ensure that they can continue to provide the best possible information and
advice.</p><p> </p><p>The group will be chaired by the Department’s Chief Scientific
Advisor, Professor Chris Whitty, and will bring together experts from the BOA and
BPA as well as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool,
University of Nottingham, the Royal Free London, Public Health England and across
Government.</p><p> </p><p>Revisions of existing guidance or specific further advice
will be published if it is deemed necessary.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, Public
Health England and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have developed
and issued more general travel advice online to health professionals that is suitable
for people travelling to Zika-affected countries, including pregnant women. A copy
of the online advice is attached.</p><p> </p><p>This includes a list of countries
where Zika virus transmission is occurring, advice around bite avoidance measures
and what and who to speak to if those travelling have concerns. PHE and NaTHNaC continue
to monitor the situation very closely and update advice as needed.</p>
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