At least 16 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 16 deaths, seven were reported in the capital.

At least 2,564 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 1,046 lives this year and nearly 2,14,247 were infected, making this the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2,000.

According to DGHS data, 9,284 dengue patients were undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country this morning.

A total of 2,03,917 patients have so far been released from hospitals across the country this year.