Dengue fever hits Malaysian Games team

Thirteen Malaysian athletes scheduled to compete in the Manchester Commonwealth Games this month have been stricken with dengue fever, team officials said yesterday.

The outbreak of the mosquito-borne fever has been traced to the Bukit Jalil national sports centre in Kuala Lumpur, where 85 athletes have been training, and has affected the badminton, rugby and track and field teams.

A Malaysian National Sports Council official said there were no plans yet to withdraw from any of the 14 events the nation was contesting.

Malaysia is sending a 104-strong contingent to the Games.