Rio 2016 Health Advice

We advise travellers to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites, which can carry a range of serious diseases including malaria, dengue fever and Zika virus.

We recommend taking protective measures include using insect repellent and avoiding areas of high mosquito concentration (e.g. stagnant water). See our travel advice for more information on how to protect against mosquito bites. The Department is monitoring the situation and regularly updating travel advice accordingly.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place during the winter season in Rio de Janeiro when the cooler and drier weather will reduce mosquito populations. The HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) advises that this cooler weather will significantly lower the risk of mosquito-borne infections for visitors, such as Zika virus and dengue.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued advice regarding the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Zika virus. The note advises pregnant women against travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. The WHO finds no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the Games and advises that appropriate care should be taken by visitors to the games to protect themselves from mosquito bites.