With 1,239 more patients hospitalised with dengue during the 24 hours till this morning, the total number of cases crossed 17,000 this year.

At least five dengue patients died meanwhile, showing an alarming trend this year.

With the new deaths, the total number of deaths in dengue rose to 93 this year while total number of cases rose to 17,382, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Some 4,069 dengue patients are still undergoing treatment while 13,220 were released.

Total number of deaths in dengue was 281 last year while the total number of cases was 62,382, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Experts urged authorities concerned to conduct extensive drives identifying clusters of Aedes mosquitoes as soon as possible.