The World Health Organization (WHO) has dismissed calls for the Rio Olympics to be moved or cancelled as a result of the growing Zika crisis.

Last week, 150 public health experts penned a letter to the organisation warning that the risk of infection from the virus – which has links to birth defects and brain abnormalities in babies – was too great for the event to be held safely.

Despite the letter’s claims that allowing the Games to proceed would “pose an unnecessary risk to 500,000 foreign tourists”, the WHO said hosting the event in the Brazilian city as scheduled would “not significantly alter the international spread of the Zika virus”.

“Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes,” said the letter. “People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of the disease is to follow public health travel advice.

“There is no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the Games.”

However, the WHO has continued to advise that pregnant women should not travel to regions where Zika is prevalent, while the partners of pregnant women travelling back from the area have been told to “practice safer sex or abstain throughout the pregnancy”.

A number of top athletes – such as London 2012 gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill and golfer Rory McIlroy – have recently stated that they were considering staying away from the upcoming Olympics due to the virus.

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