Jessica Ennis-Hill's coach says Zika virus risk means Rio Olympics camp should be moved outside Brazil

Toni Minichiello wants the British Olympic Association to move the pre-games preparation camp to a bug-free zone outside the host nation

Concern: Jess with her coach Toni Minichiello

The coach of Olympic champ Jessica Ennis-Hill says British athletes should not be based in Brazil before this year’s Rio games because of the Zika virus .

Toni Minichiello called on the British Olympic Association to move the preparation camp to a bug-free zone outside the host country.

The call came as it was revealed today that there are now four confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the UK.

Public Health England’s Dr Dilys Morgan said four “travel-associated” cases of the bug had been found in the last six weeks.
Thousands of athletes will flock to Rio de Janeiro for the world’s biggest sporting event , taking place from August 5 to 21.

But the Zika emergency has raised fears for their health, particularly for young women.

Gold medal-winning heptathlete Jess, 30, was the poster girl of the London 2012 Games.
In July 2014, she gave birth to her first child, Reggie.

Some health experts believe women who have travelled to affected zones should not get pregnant until 2018 because of the risk of serious birth defects from Zika.
 
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Jess’ long-serving trainer Minichello wants the Team GB pre-games preparation camp moved from the
Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte following an infestation of mosquitoes carrying the virus.

He said: “Coaches have a duty of care and I certainly would not be encouraging an athlete to go anywhere that could have long-term effects.

“We should be looking at finding a camp that minimises the risk.

“Coaches spend their lives trying to get athletes as healthy as possible.

“We have to try to minimise the risk, and that might mean flying in as late as possible.”

Carrier: The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito

The Zika virus has cast a shadow over this year’s Olympics - on Tuesday the head of Kenya’s team suggested it might withdraw from the games.

The Australian Olympic Committee has said it would ‘totally understand’ if female athletes decided not to compete.

And the United States Olympic Committee told US sports federations athletes and staff concerned for their health over the virus should not consider going to Rio.
 
Read more: Zika virus video reveals how to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes

Whitehall officials have held talks with the BOA, according to the Department of Health’s deputy director for emergency preparedness, resilience and response.

Games on: The Olympic Stadium in Rio

Graeme Tunbridge told MPs: “The real concern is around pregnant women travelling, so the advice is really focusing on that.

“Currently, the advice that’s going to athletes is mirroring the public health advice that’s going to the broader population.”

The risk during August is lower because it is not mosquito season, he added.

“Brazil is doing an awful lot in terms of control measures, so they are managing the risk,” said Mr Tunbridge.