With all of the news surrounding the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it would be easy to assume the absolute worst when it comes to the Zika virus outbreak.
According to a recent report, there doesn't seem to be evidence that the global event will work to exacerbate the illness' spread worldwide.
NBC News' Maggie Fox reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asserted that the Olympics won't be the sinister viral smorgasbord many presumed it might be.
And the reasons are twofold according to the report. The winter months means mosquitos will remain relatively dormant compared to when summer heat brings them out to target travelers donning shirts and shorts.
The second is actually rather intriguing considering the Olympics and the magnitude of its presentation.
One would expect its presentation in the area would welcome a boon of tourists in the area. That doesn't exactly seem to be the case.
Fox cites a CDC statement that reads: "According to the Brazilian Tourism Board, approximately 350,000-500,000 international visitors and athletes from 207 countries are expected to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This travel volume represents a very small fraction - less than 0.25 percent - of the total estimated 2015 travel volume to Zika-affected countries."
[READMORE]READ MORE: Zika Virus: What Travelers Need to Know [/READMORE]
For a brief comparison, the London Olympics expected about 881,000 visitors for its iteration of the Summer Games. But as CNN reported at the time, the overall figures coming from the fortnight of frivolity were rather disappointing.
As TravelPulse has reported recently, Rio de Janeiro faces a number of issues that may just affect locals and tourists, including the advent of a drug-resistant bacteria.
The report does note CDC's continued stance that, "pregnant women should not travel to the Games."
A rare bright spot in the fight against Zika is that cooler weather and a relatively normal number of visitors to affected countries means the overall global impact should remain consistent sans Olympics.
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