Kemri Zika virus test for all Team Kenya members

All Team Kenya members for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will undergo Zika virus screening, the squads’ Chef de Mission Stephen Soi disclosed on Thursday.

Soi said that officers from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) will take blood samples from the team members for testing prior to departure for the Games and upon arrival.

Doctors suspect that Zika virus, spread by the Aedes mosquito, may be responsible for thousands of babies born with birth defects and other neurological disorders

The virus has been linked with cases of babies born with unusually small heads, a condition that was previously known as Microcephaly. The virus is common in Brazil.

“The Ministry of Health has advised us to conduct the procedure so as to protect individuals and the nation since it has been established that the virus can also be transmitted sexually,” said Soi.

“The ministry has the responsibility to curtail any possibility of the virus getting spread.”

Soi was speaking during a medical symposium hosted by NOC-K at Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret.

Team Kenya for Rio Olympics on August 6 to 21 comprises 89 athletes and 54 officials.

The three day symposium has brought together coaches, athletes and medical practitioner. It’s aim is to sensitise the athletes on the dangers of using banned substances.

As the symposium was happening, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) took Kenya Sevens and Kenya Lionesses players’ samples at their residential training at the Nandi Bears Club in Nandi County for doping tests.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, who was accompanied by principal secretaries Richard Ekai (Sports) and Joseph Okudo (Arts and Culture), were at the camp during the process.

Also present were Adak chief executive officer Kiplimo Rugut and chairman James Waweru.

Wario reiterated that even though the country has experienced many doping cases, the timing of recent doping allegations by German broadcaster ARD and Sunday Times were suspicious.

He questioned why the allegation were once again being made at a time the country was preparing for a major championship.

The athletes training in Eldoret raised concerns over the incoherent doping methods saying they were kept for long hours and even missed their training sessions as they waited to be tested.

Led by their spokesman Wesley Korir, they met Wario Thursday morning for a closed door discussion that also touched on pending allowances.

Reporting by Wycliff Kipsang, Dennis Lubanga and Ayumba Ayodi