The Australian Olympic Committee has warned pregnant team members will need to carefully consider whether to go to the Rio Olympics due to a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil.
In recent weeks the Brazilian government announced a suspected link between the mosquito-borne Zika virus and microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the AOC said "any team members who are pregnant at the time of the Games need to consider the risks very carefully before deciding whether to proceed with travel to Brazil".
Australian Team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said she was in regular contact with team medical director David Hughes to ensure she has the latest information about the disease.
"The health and wellbeing of all our team members is paramount, especially those females in the team of child bearing age," Chiller said.
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"We have a responsibility to ensure that we educate and inform all prospective team members of the potential risks and to put in place whatever mitigating measures we can."
All athletes and officials at the Games will be given mosquito repellent, with 500 tons to be made available.
The AOC is advising team members to wear long sleeves in areas where they perceive a risk of being bitten and not to leave windows or doors open while living in the village.
Nearly 4000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, compared with fewer than 150 cases in the country in 2014.
There has not been a single case in Rio de Janeiro, where the games will open on August 5.
