HOUSTON – Counting down: Rio is ready to party as the start date of the 2016 Summer Olympics draws closer and closer.
“There’s beautiful people here and culture and a lot of fun things to do. I like it a lot," said Oleg Gutyuk, an American tourist from Seattle.
But as the city prepares to host nearly a half-million visitors in August, it is waging a massive campaign to stop what some say is turning into a public relations nightmare. News of the Zika virus, the mosquito-borne illness, is causing a global health scare, and public health officials have said they see no easy solution.
All Olympic venues are being inspected and fumigated. Tourists soaking up the sun on Rio’s world-famous beaches and revelers getting ready to celebrate Carnival are taking precautions.
“I am actually super nervous about getting it, because I am very prone to getting mosquito bites, and so I've brought tons of repellent,” said Emily Ku, an American tourist from Los Angeles.
But the city remains steadfast in its efforts to not let fears of the Zika virus and growing concerns over recent budget cuts overshadow the buildup to the summer games.