With the Zika virus causing concern about the safety of athletes, staff and fans at the Rio Olympics, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced on Friday that it is forming an infectious disease advisory group.
The group will help the USOC identify and establish best practices for the mitigation, assessment and management of infectious diseases, according to a press release.
The USOC’s press release did not mention the Zika virus, but the mosquito-borne illness has raised concerns about the Games and whether they could be canceled.
Organizers have said the Olympics will go on as scheduled despite concerns, reiterating that because of their timing during Brazil’s cool season in August, the Aedes aegypti mosquito population that spreads the virus will be smaller.