New Delhi: Australia has issued an advisory to its citizens about the dengue in Delhi but that will not deter the "biggest" Australian contingent from coming here for the Commonwealth Games next month, Peter Varghese, the country's high commissioner, said on Thursday.
"We have been keeping our team and others advised about preparations for the Games and developments," Varghese told reporters.
"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," he added.
The envoy said despite the dengue scare, Australia was looking forward to the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event Delhi will be hosting since the 1982 Asian Games.
"We are looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and have a very large team of 650 Australians that would be the biggest we would be sending. So, we will be looking forward to some very good competition in the Games," Varghese said.
Four persons are reported to have died after contracting dengue and over 1,500 people are said to have been afflicted with the disease that has spread due to water stagnation caused by incessant rains for over a month.
However, there is some concern in Australia about the security for the Games. The issue figured in discussions between the chief of Australia's Defence Force Angus Houston and Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh last month.
"The chief of (Australian) defence force and the chief of the Indian Army discussed a wide range of issues during General Singh's visit," a spokesman of Australia's defence force was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.
"During General Singh's visit, the Chief of the Defence Force sought an assurance that the security for the Commonwealth Games would be effective. General Singh provided an overview of the security capability that would be in place for the Games and gave an assurance that appropriate actions were being taken to counter the risk," he added.
Besides Houston, Australia's Chief of Army Ken Gillespie and secretary of the defence department Ian Watt also met General Singh in Canberra.
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