At least 12 more people died from dengue in 24 hours preceding 8:00am today as the country grapples with a record outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease.

Of the 12 deaths, five were reported in the capital.

At least 1,852 dengue patients were hospitalised in the 24-hour period, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Dengue has so far claimed at least 1,284 lives this year and nearly 258,912 were infected, making this the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2000.

According to DGHS data, 7,546 dengue patients were undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country.

A total of 250,082 patients have so far been released from hospitals across the country this year.