Kenya preparing for Rio as planned, insists Olympic team official

An aerial view of the Olympic Stadium in Rio

The official in charge of Kenya's Olympic team has played down reports the country could pull out of this year's Games in Rio.

Former star athlete Kip Keino, who is now president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, had earlier appeared to suggest Kenya may withdraw its athletes from the Games in August due to concerns over the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil getting worse.

"Obviously, we are not going to risk taking Kenyans there if this Zika virus reaches epidemic levels," he was quoted as saying.

However, Kenya's team chief Stephen Arap Soi has claimed Keino's remarks were taken out of context and that Kenya is preparing as planned for the Games.

He also added that Kenya's Olympic Committee is in regular contact with the International Olympic Committee and there has been no advice against travelling to Brazil..

"We assure all [that] we are preparing for Rio 2016 as planned," said Soi.

The east African nation boasts some of the best middle and long-distance runners in the world and topped the medals table at the 2015 World Athletics Championships.

Global health authorities suspect the mosquito-borne Zika virus has caused a spike in Brazil of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head.

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Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases has downplayed the severity of the Zika virus.

As a result, the World Health Organisation declared an international health emergency on February 1, and pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant have been advised to avoid travelling to places with Zika outbreaks by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The British Olympic Association has been liaising with experts at the London School of Tropical Medicine and has issued guidance to British athletes, while the Australian and New Zealand Olympic Committees have already warned their athletes of the potential dangers for pregnant women.

Municipal agents try to eradicate the mosquitos in Rio

And the United States Olympic Committee has reportedly told US sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health should consider not going to the Games.

However, USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky has denied this is the case.

"Team USA looks forward to the Games and we did not, would not and will not prevent athletes from competing for their country should they qualify," Sandusky said.