Due to the very real, and very terrifying, threat of Zika Virus, which is spread by mosquitos and has been linked to severe birth defects, Savannah Guthrie, 44, will NOT be traveling Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer for the 2016 Olympic Games. The pregnant co-host of the Today Show, has said that she doesn’t want to take ANY risks when it comes to the health of her baby — even if it means missing out on covering the world’s most exciting event of the year!
Savannah, who announced on June 7 that she’s expecting her second child with hubby Michael Feldman, 47, ALSO revealed that she’ll be skipping the Summer Olympics in Rio. But we don’t blame her! After all, the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has afflicted large areas of South America — including Brazil, has been blamed for causing severe birth defects.
This brave move by Savannah makes the journalist the most high-profile TV personality to opt out of the Games! And she is causing quite the splash by speaking out about it. “I’m not gonna be able to go to Rio,” Savannah revealed on June 7. “The doctors say that we shouldn’t because of the CDC — because of the Zika virus. So I’ll miss it.” If you ask us, Savannah’s making a smart decision. And Savannah’s employer, NBC, wholeheartedly agrees.
“The safety of our team members is always our first priority,” NBC said in a statement.
“NBCUniversal’s medical department has advised all of our Olympic personnel to consult with their personal physicians, and continues to provide the latest information from the CDC and WHO, including basic prevention steps. No NBC personnel assigned to work in Rio will be required to travel if they believe their personal health or safety is at risk.”
And Zika is NO joke! The scary virus has even been linked to severe birth defects and microcephaly — abnormal brain development that causes a smaller than usual head size and intellectual disabilities. Terrifying, right? So it’s no surprise that both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control have advised pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas with Zika, if possible.
Clearly Savannah is just making the best decision for her and her family and we totally applaud and respect that. Although we WILL miss her reporting on the Games come summertime!
Tell us, folks — do YOU think Savannah is making the right choice by skipping the Olympics this summer?
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