With no cure in sight and governments flailing to address the problem, the threat of the Zika virus continues to weigh heavily on would-be travelers. Among them, Rihanna, who this week dropped out of the inaugural Lollapalloza Colombia festival due to fears that she might contract the virus, which has been linked to birth defects.
According to Consequence of Sound (via La Tercera), festival organizers were unable to find a suitable replacement for the ANTI singer in time and opted instead to cancel the festival entirely. The concert, which was set to take place in Bogotá on September 17 and 18, featured an impressive lineup of artists, including Lana Del Rey, Anderson .Paak, and Disclosure. Ticket holders will receive a refund.
Rihanna is hardly the first big name to skip out on South America. A handful of world class athletes have decided not to go to Rio next month to compete in the Olympics over fears of contracting Zika. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress has yet to pass a bill that will fund Zika prevention efforts stateside.
