Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 and 12 February (HL5764 and HL5766) and by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 11 February (HL5765), and in the light of current information about the increased extent of dangers from the Zika virus affecting up to 20 per cent of all births, whether they intend to issue further advice about, or to reconsider, in consultation with other European governments, the long-term implications of participating in or attending the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA) have prepared guidance to consider the health risks, including those posed by Zika, for British athletes and staff travelling to Brazil for the Olympics.

The Department of Health has convened an Olympics health advisory group on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to focus on Zika and to support the BOA and BPA to ensure that they can continue to provide the best possible information and advice.

The group will be chaired by the Department’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Chris Whitty, and will bring together experts from the BOA and BPA as well as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, the Royal Free London, Public Health England and across Government.

Revisions of existing guidance or specific further advice will be published if it is deemed necessary.

In the meantime, Public Health England and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have developed and issued more general travel advice online to health professionals that is suitable for people travelling to Zika-affected countries, including pregnant women. A copy of the online advice is attached.

This includes a list of countries where Zika virus transmission is occurring, advice around bite avoidance measures and what and who to speak to if those travelling have concerns. PHE and NaTHNaC continue to monitor the situation very closely and update advice as needed.