Rio’s Carnival − a five day festival of dancing, bared flesh and wild costumes − opened Friday in the face of warnings that the Zika virus might make even kissing dangerous.
Mayor Eduardo Paes handed a big golden key to the city to the Carnival’s ceremonial King Momo, who promised a spectacular show.
“With great happiness, brotherly love and peace, I declare the best Carnival on Earth open — our Carnival in the Marvelous City,” said the dancing king, who is elected ahead of the festivities.
n August, Rio will become South America’s first city to host the
Summer Olympics and there are mounting fears that the mega-event will be
disrupted.
Foreign governments are lining up to urge tourists to avoid countries hosting the Zika-carrying mosquito, and Brazil itself has specifically advised pregnant women not to come to the Olympics.
Ahead of Rio’s Carnival, city authorities announced a program of fumigation and eradication of potential mosquito breeding sites that will intensify in the run-up to the Olympics. Authorities are also pointing out that in six months, it will be the southern hemisphere winter, meaning many fewer mosquitoes.
Canceling the Games, said Brazilian Sports Minister George Hilton on Thursday, “is not under discussion.”
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