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<p>The risk to the United Kingdom population posed by Zika virus – and of the mosquito
species which transmit the virus establishing itself in the UK – remains extremely
low.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is ensuring the UK and those travelling to countries
with active Zika transmission by mosquitoes are protected. Up-to-date travel advice
is in place, and clinical advice is available to UK medical professionals. Public
Health England has been working with Royal Colleges to provide guidance to healthcare
professionals on managing symptomatic patients (including pregnant women) returning
from areas with active transmission of Zika. This has been cascaded by appropriate
Royal Colleges. Furthermore, NHS Blood and Transplant will defer donors returning
from areas with active Zika transmission from donating for 28 days.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>On 13 May 2016 the Department of Health, along with the Department for Culture,
Media and Sport, convened an Olympic and Paralympic health advisory group. The group
brought together academic experts and cross-government representatives to support
the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA) in
updating their guidance to athletes and staff travelling to Brazil for the Olympics
and to ensure consistency with that provided to the travelling public. Zika virus
was a key topic for discussion along with other potential health risks. The BOA and
BPA are updating their guidance in light of discussions at the meeting and with further
input from the academics and clinicians present. The Foreign Office will link this
to their wider consular campaign ‘Stay ahead of the Games’.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>
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