Zika virus fears dampen Carnival, Olympics excitement in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO – Rio is alive and buzzing with activity. Carnival festivities are underway and we’re exactly six months from the start of the Summer Olympics. But the mood is eclipsed by mounting fears over the Zika virus, security and transportation. The journey to get this far has not been an easy one.

As the city prepares to host nearly a half million people in August, it is trying to stave off what could turn into a public relations nightmare. News of the Zika virus, a disease spread by mosquitoes, is causing a global health scare, and public health officials see no simple solution. But fear and uncertainty isn’t keeping the tourists away.

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”At this point I think it's one of those things. It’s a new virus. Just like the Ebola virus caused a lot of scare, I think it may be the same thing. Let’s hope Brazil can keep it under control,” Irwin Whitegittens, a tourist from New York, said.

The venues hosting the games are being inspected and fumigated. Olympic organizers are confident they’ll be ready in time for the games but admit the work isn’t finished yet. 

“We're doing final commission, we're doing electrical tests, we're stressing the technology services inside the venues,” Gustavo Nascimento, Rio 2016 Olympic venue manager, said.

With additional bus lines and a brand new light rail system, the hope is this will revolutionize the city’s controversial public transportation system in time for the opening ceremonies on Aug. 5. 


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