Australia's High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese has said that Canberra has issued an advisory to its 2010 Commonwealth Games squad over the dengue outbreak in India.
Australia's High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese has said that Canberra has issued an advisory to its 2010 Commonwealth Games squad over the dengue outbreak in India.
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Varghese, however, said he is hopeful that the upcoming event will be a success despite the travel advisories issued to the contingent from Down Under.
"We have been keeping our team and others advised about preparations for the games and developments. We have also provided advice through our travel advisories about the seasonal outbreak of dengue fever but these are not things that are going to stop the games," said Varghese.
Those staying close to the 2010 Games venues have criticized the authorities for spending millions of rupees on preparations, but not doing anything to get rid of the filth around the stadia.
"By now all the preparation work must have been over but it is so filthy over here, mosquitoes are breeding here, there is scare of outbreak of diseases. What are we going to show foreigners? Is it this filth?" asked Gajendra Singh, a local.
Last week, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad reviewed the dengue situation with Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia.
So far, 1,081 dengue cases have been reported in the capital.
Last month, Azad blamed large-scale construction for the upcoming Commonwealth Games responsible for the huge number of dengue cases in the national capital.
"Mosquitoes breeding at construction sites is one of the reasons behind the menace. The presence of dengue and water is strongly related," said Azad, while asking the people to remain alert and take preventive measures.
"Delhi is dug up because of the Games, and it is also raining very heavily in the city after a long time. Since water remains accumulated in many places, it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes," he added.
Health officials have said dengue cases this year are the highest in the last six years.
The Delhi Government has also swung into action to contain the rise in dengue cases by issuing a host of advisories and announcing several services, while urging Delhiites not to panic.
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four-dengue viruses.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3, is India''s biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.
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India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.
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