WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined nine of their Senate colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA.) and Patty Murray (D-WA), in sending a letter to U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Chairman Lawrence Probst asking "what steps the USOC is taking to assist and protect our athletes against the spread of the Zika virus."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Brazil is the epicenter for the spread of the virus with at least 120,000 suspected cases of Zika - nearly half of all the suspected cases in the Americas.

"We hope that the USOC is prepared to work with health authorities both here in the United States and in Brazil to help ensure that all the necessary steps are taken to protect our athletes as they compete this summer," the Senators wrote in the letter.

The Zika virus is transmitted via bites from the same kinds of mosquitos that carry dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, and can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse. In most cases the symptoms of Zika are mild, but increasing data has shown that the virus can cause serious health issues. Research has confirmed the virus causes severe birth defects, including microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers, and is linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. The outbreak could infect up to four million people.

This letter comes in advance of the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games beginning in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was cosigned by Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA) , Jack Reed (D-RI), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

The full text of the letter follows:

May 23, 2016
Lawrence F. Probst, III
Chairman
United States Olympic Committee

Dear Chairman Probst:

As proud supporters of the U.S. Olympic Team and our outstanding athletes who are preparing to travel to Brazil to participate in the upcoming Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, we write to ask what steps the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is taking to assist and protect our athletes against the spread of the Zika virus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Brazil is the epicenter for the spread of the virus with at least 120,000 suspected cases of Zika - nearly half of all the suspected cases in the Americas.

Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the Zika virus may be more of a threat than initially anticipated. Research has not only linked the virus to severe birth defects, including microcephaly, in babies born to infected mothers, but to possible neurological effects in adults. There are additional concerns about the duration that the virus lasts in an infected individual so there could be possible cases of transmission in the United States long after the Games have concluded.

Given this context, we hope that the USOC is prepared to work with health authorities both here in the United States and in Brazil to help ensure that all the necessary steps are taken to protect our athletes as they compete this summer.

We stand ready to work with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,