Thousands of dead fish wash up on Rio's Olympic shore

Thousands of dead fish have washed up on the shores of Rio's Guanabara Bay, not far from the the sailing venue in this summer's Olympic Games.

The incident was the latest involving water quality in the bay where sailing, open water swimming and triathlon races are due to take place at the games in August.

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Officials have found rubbish in the water and on the beach as well as a considerable number of dead fish from the same species of sardine.

These fish are often thrown overboard by trawlers because of their low commercial value.

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Other than floating rubbish, officials saw no visible abnormalities in the water. They have taken samples and are due report back on the results in five days time.

When Rio made its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, it said it would cut the amount of raw sewage flowing into the bay by 80 per cent - but the city has since confirmed that it won't meet that target.

An independent report last year found that there were dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria in the water - which is obviously not good news for those areas where athletes are expected to compete.

In December last year, Associated Press reported that Olympic sailor Erik Heil was treated for MRSA after sailing in the water in Rio in July.

Heil suggested he should wear plastic overalls while in the contaminated waters at the main event this summer.

Kristina Mena, from the University of Texas Health Science Center, said: "Those virus levels are widespread. It's not just along the shoreline but it's elsewhere in the water, therefore it's going to increase the exposure of the people who come into contact with those waters."

She added: "We're talking about an extreme environment, where the pollution is so high that exposure is imminent and the chance of infection very likely."