Zika: Spain taking 3,000 bottles of insect repellent to Rio

MADRID – Spain’s Olympic Committee says 3,000 bottles of insect repellent will be available to its athletes to help them avoid the Zika virus during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

At a meeting to inform the local sports federations about the virus on Monday, the committee said it recently reached a deal with the laboratory Omega Pharma to provide its strongest repellent to the hundreds of Spaniard athletes going to Rio in August.

Committee doctors said there was a need to “remain engaged but not worried” about Zika, noting that only one in four people who have the disease develops its symptoms.

They stressed, however, that pregnant woman in the delegation should not go to Rio.

The committee said it will respect athletes who decide not to go.