SEATTLE - Hope Solo says she may skip the Olympics.
The most decorated soccer player of all time made the statement through Sports Illustrated, and says it has everything to do with her concern over the spread of the Zika virus.
"If I had to make the choice today, I wouldn't go [to the Olympics]," the former University of Washington star told SI.
Solo is married to former Husky and Seahawk Jerramy Stevens.
"I would never take the risk of having an unhealthy child," she said. "I don't know when that day will come for Jerramy and me, but I personally reserve my right to have a healthy baby. No athlete competing in Rio should be faced with this dilemma. Female professional athletes already face many different considerations and have to make choices that male professional athletes don't."
Solo is the first Olympic athlete to publicly raise issues with the spread of the virus, which doctors say leaves pregnant women, and women trying to conceive, most at risk. The World Health Organization says the virus, spread by mosquitoes, may be linked to birth defects in young children. It has risen to epidemic levels in Brazil, the host country for the 2016 Olympics.
"It's not a good time to go a country where a Zika outbreak is occuring if you're pregnant currently or you think you might get pregnant while you're in the country," said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, infectious disease specialist for Seattle King County Public Health on Tuesday.
But he says even despite concerns about a pandemic, there is little to worry about in Western Washington.
"Zika is very unlikely to cause large outbreaks or widespread transmission in the U.S. and that's because most areas of the U.S. don't have the mosquito that's necessary to spread the virus," said Duchin, who also believes that quarantines are not the answer.
But the State Department of Health on Tuesday acknowledged that "it's a matter of time" before a Washingtonian comes down with the virus. Health Department spokesperson Julie Graham said 12 samples from Washington residents have been sent to the CDC for testing. She says anyone who has traveled to a Zika-prone area and comes down with symptoms 2-7 days after a mosquito bite may be at risk of contracting it. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint paint and red eyes.
On Tuesday, Solo's coach Jill Ellis said "We don't want to distract from the performance piece, we have to qualify," but noted, "This has become a global issue, and lots of people have been affected by this."
Star Alex Morgan said "Zika virus is a scary thing, very unknown," but hoped "some of the unknowns will be known in the coming months."
Patrick Sandusky, a spokesperson for the US Olympic Committee, said in a statement to KING 5: "We are closely monitoring the situation through the CDC and have ongoing contact with the International Olympic Committee, the organizing officials in Rio, the World Health Organization and infectious disease specialists with expertise in tropical diseases, including the Zika virus. Additionally, we're taking steps to ensure that our delegation and those affiliated with Team USA are aware of the CDC's recommendations regarding travel to Brazil."
