Rousseff: Zika outbreak does not compromise Olympics in Rio

In this National Day of Mobilization to Combat the Aedes aegypti (Feb. 13), President Dilma Rousseff said the large number of Zika cases in the country does not compromise the Olympic Games the country will be hosting in August, in Rio de Janeiro.

The statement was made during a visit to the Santa Cruz neighborhood in the west zone of Rio, one of the regions with the highest rate of infestation of the mosquito that transmits dengue, Zika virus, and chikungunya. The president had breakfast in the house of cook Adriana Medeiros and advised the resident on ways to remove the mosquito's potential breeding sites.

"We are confident that until the Olympics begin we'll have achieved a remarkable success in exterminating the mosquito. Now, we need you [the population]. This is a mayor's, a governor's, my duty. But we also appeal to the conscience of every person from Rio, every man, woman, child, to help us fulfill this role," said Rousseff.

According to the president, Rio de Janeiro is a place of priority in the fight against the mosquito, precisely due to the Olympics. She pointed out, however, that to combat the zika vector is not a commitment to the foreign delegations, but to Brazil itself.

Rousseff noted that Brazil and the United States are making a joint effort to develop the vaccine against zika, but while it has not been developed, it is necessary to remove the breeding sites of the Aedes aegypti.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta