American Olympic bosses are telling athletes and staff worried about the Zika virus they should consider not going to the Rio games this summer.

The head of USA Fencing says the advice is that women who are pregnant or thinking about having a child shouldn't travel.

Donald Anthony told the Reuters news agency that the country's sport federations have been given guidance on the issue.

He told Reuters that worried athletes should not go to Rio de Janeiro this summer "if they don't feel comfortable going - bottom line."

The disease spread by mosquitos is linked to birth defects.