The World Health Organization is rejecting a suggestion to move or postpone the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year because of the Zika virus.

The WHO says cancelling the Games would "not significantly alter" the spread of the virus.

A group of 150 prominent doctors and health professionals have delivered an open letter to the WHO, suggesting it's "unethical" for the Games to go ahead.

Zika is a non-fatal viral infection transmitted by mosquitos, which normally presents as minor flu-like symptoms.

However, it can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly -- or children born with abnormally-small heads.

An infected person can also transmit the virus through sexual contact, meaning there is an increased risk of birth defects in the roughly 60-countries which have seen cases of Zika.

Brazil is thought to be where the current Zika outbreak began.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)