No scientific basis for postponing Brazil Olympics due to Zika: minister

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Published June 10, 2016

The logo of the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games is pictured during Germany's presentation of the official Olympic uniforms in Duesseldorf (Copyright Reuters 2016)

Brazil's Health Minister Ricardo Barros said on Friday there is no scientific basis for postponing the Olympics because of the Zika virus, explaining that lower temperatures and fewer mosquitoes reduced the chance of infection in August when the games will be held.

"We are not considering it (postponing the games)," Barros told a foreign media briefing in Rio de Janeiro.