CARNIVAL has kicked off in traditional bright and colourful style, despite the health warnings.
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| Rio de Janeiro Carnival has kicked off in colourful style (GETTY-REUTERS) |
Rio de Janeiro's famous carnival has begun with thousands of revellers taking to the street in Brazil for the celebrations.
Sticking with tradition, there are plenty of ladies in barely-there colourful outfits drawing the eye on spectacular floats.
Hundreds of thousands of people will jet into Rio de Janeiro this weekend for the carnival, which marks the celebration before Lent.
And it's not just the humans taking part - carnival revellers and their dogs took part in the 'Blocao' or dog carnival parade during carnival festivities earlier today.
The streets were awash with bright colours, every colour in the spectrum represented by jovial partiers.
Men, women, children and animals united for the fabulous event - despite scientists' health warnings hanging in the air.
Only yesterday a top Brazilian biomedical research institution - the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - broke the news that the Zika virus had been found 'active' in the saliva and urine of two infected patients.
They issued a warning to pregnant women in Brazil, telling them to steer clear of kissing strangers in case the virus can be transferred through spit.
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| Colourful costumes dominate the streets of Sao Paulo (GETTY) |
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| A dancer covers her body with flowers at Brazilian carnival (GETTY) |
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| Splendid colourful costumes are on display a the Carnival of Sao Paulo (EPA) |
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| A giant Egyption float takes part in the Brazilian carnival(EPA) |
It's believed scientists used genetic testing to identify the virus in saliva and urine samples from the two infected patients.
Both are suffering with symptoms caused by Zika infection, and the medical team have determined the virus is active, meaning it had the potential to cause infection.
Having said this, more research is needed to determine whether or not the Zika can be transmitted through saliva or urine.
Zika, which is spreading through the Americas and can cause pregnant women to give birth to babies with shrunken heads, was declared an international emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.
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| Even dogs are involved in the festivities (REUTERS) |
And this latest development will come as a huge blow to the organisers of the 2016 summer Olympic Games, set to be held in Rio de Janeiro in August.
But it didn't dampen the spirits of the revellers today at a party that will carry on over the weekend.
Renowned for colourful floats, loud music and stunning bikini clad women, the event attracts huge crowds and even A list guests.
In Rio, February is the hottest month of the year so it will come as no surprise to many to see ladies wearing barely anything during the celebrations.
Despite the sexy costumes, nudity does NOT mean naked. Nudity is penalised in the Sambodromo, so although costumes have been getting smaller, you won’t be seeing full nudity from the samba-goers.
Tourism is huge for the carnival. In 2010, Rio received 800,000 visitors. The whole country stops for the week of the carnival, except tourism services such as hotels, cafes and bars.
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