team could have Gregerson throw again before activating him.Twins

Health officials have dismissed calls for this summers Rio Olympics to be postponed or moved over the Zika crisis. With just 10 weeks before the Games are due to begin, 152 leading scientists have written an open letter to the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying new findings about the virus make staging the event in the city irresponsible and unethical.But the WHO rejected the warning, insisting that shifting the Olympics would not significantly alter the spread of the virus. It said in a statement: Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus. Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes. People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. Over 100 scientists says Rio Olympics should be postponed The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice. One of the letters signatories, Professor Arthur Caplan, told Sky News a postponement of three to six months would have allowed time for a vaccine to be created.He added: What we are learning about Zika is that the strain not only causes birth defects but also has this neurological explosion impact on children. Its more serious than we thought.We are also starting to understand that it can cause paralysis, rarely but it can do it, in adults, and we dont yet know how long it lingers in a person. Brazil faces new health epidemic as mosquito-borne Zika virus spreads rapidly To top it all off Brazil has been undergoing economic and political troubles and its not clear that theyre going to be able to do whats necessary to protect both athletes and visitors.Zika can cause microcephaly in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brains.It has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis which affect the nervous system.Nearly 1,300 babies have been born in Brazil with microcephaly since the mosquito-borne Zika began circulating there last year.The letter said the Games should be moved or delayed in the name of public health after infections in Rio rose despite increased efforts to wipe out the mosquitoes. Signatories were from more than two dozen countries and include former White House science adviser Dr Philip Rubin.The WHO has already advised pregnant women not to go to Rio and says travellers should avoid poor and overcrowded parts of the city.The UN agency also predicts the Zika risk will drop in August, with the South American winter resulting in fewer mosquitoes.No Olympic Games has ever been moved from its host city due to medical concerns.A dissenting voice in the scientific community is Dr Tom Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.He said: There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics.The risk to delegations going and athletes is not zero, but the risk of any travel isnt zero. The risk is not particularly high other than for pregnant women. Also See: Move Games or stop it Farah wins in Oregon 23 fail London retests Xena: Pool princess Pascal Siakam Raptors Jersey . 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MINNEAPOLIS -- Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros were given a welcomed do-over.The Minnesota Twins had their strong start washed away.The Astros-Twins game was postponed Wednesday night by rain that came in the top of the third inning and never quit, and Major League Baseball finally made the decision after a 2 1/2-hour delay.The game will be reset Thursday night as the second half of a doubleheader, following the regularly scheduled afternoon game. That means the 5-0 lead the Twins took off Keuchel, including Brian Doziers leadoff home run, has been erased.You get off to a good start against a good pitcher and youve got your best guy out there and youve just got to wipe it off the slate, Twins manager Paul Molitor said, with a hint of weariness in his voice. Unfortunate. Good for them.After the Twins tagged the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner with four runs in the second, sending 10 batters to the plate as dark clouds rolled in and lightning flashed in the distance, the skies opened up and the fans hurried for cover.Twins starter Ervin Santana left the mound with a disappointed look with one out and a big lead in the third as the umpires waved the players off the field and the grounds crew hustled to retrieve the tarp. White umbrellas, designed to look like baseballs, were conveniently given away to the first 10,000 customers who entered.You never know how its going to end, but well take the restart, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.The Astros, who began the day four games behind in the crowded AL wild card race, have gone 41-27 since May 22. Thats the third-best record in the major leagues since then. Part of the problem during the slow start was Keuchel, who is a mere 7-11 with a 4.56 ERA this season.He was coming off a three-hit shutout of division-leading Texas in his last turn, another sign he was getting back in a groove.Felt good. Felt like it was an extension of the last start. Next thing I know, theres five runs on the board, Keuchel said. So thats disappointing.Dozier hit what would have been his 24th home run of the season. Then the Astros let Keuchel downn with errors by third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Carlos Correa, leading to two unearned runs.ddddddddddddIll take this mulligan and hopefully come back next start hot, Keuchel said.PITCHING DECISIONSAstros RHP Chris Devenski will move from the bullpen to start the makeup game. LHP Kevin Chapman will be recalled from Triple-A Fresno as the 26th player for the night.LHP Tommy Milone, who was recently moved into relief after making 11 starts earlier this season, will take the mound for the Twins. LHP Andrew Albers will be brought up from Triple-A Rochester as the 26th player.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: RHP Luke Gregerson, who started the season as the closer, threw an aggressive bullpen session without trouble for his strained left oblique muscle. Hes eligible Friday to come off the DL, but Hinch said the decision has not yet been made. The team could have Gregerson throw again before activating him.Twins: RHP Trevor May was placed on the DL before the game with a lower back strain, an aggravation of an injury that cost him 23 games earlier in the season. May, who has a 4.89 ERA in 42 1/3 innings and leads relievers with 59 strikeouts, will see a specialist Thursday for further evaluation.TRY AGAINTwins rookie RHP J.T. Chargois, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill in for May, has returned for redemption with his 67.50 ERA. In his major league debut June 11 against Boston, Chargois gave up five runs while recording only two outs.Chargois, who was picked for the All-Star Futures Game, had a 1.29 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 35 innings for Rochester.I wanted to pick up where I left off, he said. I wanted to prove that was a mistake.UP NEXTThe Astros will send RHP Doug Fister (10-7, 3.47 ERA) to the mound for the first game Thursday. He has allowed only one run over 12 innings in two August starts. Rookie RHP Jose Berrios (2-2, 8.31 ERA) will pitch the first game for the Twins, his third turn since being called up for his second stint in the majors. ' ' '