U.N. health officials say they have not confirmed any laboratory cases of the Zika virus in athletes or anyone else associated with the Olympics, which concluded Sunday.

The U.N.'s World Health Organization made the announcement in a status update on the virus, which can cause birth defects.

That's surprising, perhaps, given all the dire predictions before the games about how the Olympics might help spread the mosquito-borne virus. Many athletes, including NBA stars and professional golfers, skipped the games because of the Zika epidemic in Brazil. And Brazilians jeered some athletes (such as Hope Solo) in Rio who had publicly expressed concerns about the virus.

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According to the report, "The 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro ended on 21 August. From the reports WHO received from national health authorities, there have so far been no laboratory confirmed cases of Zika virus in anyone associated with the Olympics.

"The situation is being closely monitored; a few cases may still occur, especially given the approximately one-week incubation period of the virus."