The Capital remained firmly in the grip of dengue, with 68 more patients testing positive for the vector-borne disease on Friday. With this, the total number of cases has touched 2,153.

Delhi has reported five dengue deaths this season. During the same period last year, the number of cases of the vector-borne disease in the city was only 18, while it was 294 and 52 in the corresponding periods of 2008 and 2007.

Civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to the prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Games construction sites.

The dengue outbreak has also caused concern among several countries, which are supposed to send teams for participating in the Games. The government has reassured them that all possible steps are being taken to tackle the menace, and the Capital is safe for holding the event.