Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) – Eighteen dengue patients died in the capital city since the beginning of this year, the government said Saturday.

Officially, the death toll was 14 until the morning. The Health Emergency Operations Center of the Directorate General of Health Services updated the figure in the afternoon.

But unofficial estimates suggest the death toll is higher.

Dhaka, one of the most densely-populated cities in the world, is at the centre of dengue outbreak. The situation has worsened this year with hundreds of cases being reported every day. The government said 22,919 people were hospitalised with dengue since January 1.

In 24 hours till Saturday morning, 1,649 new dengue patients were hospitalised. Currently, 6,858 patients, including children, are undergoing treatment at hospitals.