Australian athletes at the Rio Olympics will be supplied with anti-viral condoms to help combat the spread of the Zika virus.

The condoms, that contain an anti-viral lubricant, will be distributed to athletes as a measure to help prevent them contracting the Zika virus which has spread throughout South America.

Sexual transmission of the virus has contributed to it spreading beyond the continent.

Germany last week reported its first case of the virus as a result of a woman becoming infected following a sexual encounter in Puerto Rico.

Australian team chef de mission Kitty Chiller said steps are being taken to minimise the health risk of athletes travelling to Brazil.

Those steps include distribution of the anti-viral condoms that have been developed by one of the team's commercial partners Starpharma.

"The health and wellbeing of the team comes first and our association with Starpharma will provide extra protection for everyone on the team," she said

"It is a common sense approach to a very serious problem we are facing in Rio."