Kenya threatened Tuesday to pull its elite runners and other athletes out of the Rio Olympics unless it got assurances they would not be exposed to the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil. Sports authorities across the world are scrambling to find out more about the mosquito-borne virus as they make plans for the Games in August. "Obviously, we are not going to risk taking Kenyans there if this Zika Virus reaches epidemic levels. They have to assure us that the country is safe enough to take athletes there," the head of Kenya's Olympics committee, Kipchoge Keino, told Reuters. Kenya was expected to be one of the star performers at Rio, fielding some of the best middle and long-distance runners in the world. The East African nation topped the medals table at the 2015 World Championships. Keino, himself a Kenyan running great, said his office has been in touch with Olympics organizers to voice their concerns. "We have made it clear that unless they clean the venues of this potentially dangerous disease, we will not go there," said the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, who won Olympic gold medals at the Mexico City and Munich Olympics. "But if they assure us that things are in order and there is no risk to participants, mothers, we will go." The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Feb. 1 over the outbreak of the virus, that authorities fear is linked to a rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head. The US Olympic committee has told its sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health should consider not going to Rio. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant to avoid travel to places with Zika outbreaks. Impact of virus on preparations Sports authorities across the world are scrambling to find out more about the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Brazil as they make plans for August's Rio Olympics. Below are the latest announcements: AUSTRALIA Australia's Olympic Committee said no athletes have indicated they intended to withdraw, but it would "totally understand" if they did. BRITAIN British Olympic Association Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe said none of the country's athletes were reluctant to go. But British rower Andrew Triggs Hodge said his wife Eeke would not accompany him because of the "very real and frightening threat" posed by Zika. JAPAN Japan's Olympics Committee Chairman Tsunekazu Takeda said no athletes were thinking of "boycotting the Olympics." KENYA Kenya threatened to pull its elite runners and other athletes out of the Rio Olympics unless it got assurances they would not be exposed. "Obviously, we are not going to risk taking Kenyans there if this Zika virus reaches epidemic levels," said the head of Kenya's Olympics committee, Kipchoge Keino, himself a Kenyan running great. NEW ZEALAND New Zealand's Olympics Committee issued a warning to its athletes and officials of the risks. Any competitors who decide to opt out would receive the committee's "absolute support," a committee spokeswoman said. UNITED STATES The United States Olympic Committee told sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health should consider not going to the Games.
