At least 20 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 20 deaths, 10 were reported in the capital.

At least 1,889 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 1,246 lives this year and nearly 252,990 were infected, making this the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2000.

According to DGHS data, 8,114 dengue patients were undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country yesterday morning.

A total of 2,43,630 patients have so far been released from hospitals across the country this year.