A new threat for the athletes has emerged to add to the compounding problems of the Common Wealth Games to be held in Delhi in October.

To add to the pressure on the authorities to complete the infrastructure for the Games on time, Dengue fever has hit Delhi owing to the incessant rains in the capital. Delhi has been completely affected by torrential rains over the past two weeks. Just out of summer, this is the ideal breeding time for mosquitoes as the winter season starts from the end of September.

Always a threat, Delhi has now registered almost 6300 cases of dengue this monsoon and health authorities have confirmed worse could come because the beginning of the CWG coincides with the peak mosquito-breeding season.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has warned that there could be a steady increase in cases towards the beginning of October and expressed concern over the increase of mosquito breeding sites at the athletes' village which is adjacent to the Yamuna River.

This is a major worry for the members of the Olympic Committee regarding the participation of foreign athletes. It is to be noted that many of the top athletes, including sprinter Usain Bolt, have already pulled out of the CWG.