La Paz, Feb 15 (AP) Hospitals in Bolivia's eastern Santa Cruz region struggled Wednesday to keep up with an outbreak of dengue that has killed at least 26 people.

It marks the largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the almost 7,000 cases detected since January have been in Santa Cruz, the country's most populous region, where two of the most lethal variants of the illness have been detected.

Also Read | Porn to Be Banned for Minors? More US States to Follow Louisiana, Consider Requiring Government-Issued ID For Watching Pornographic Websites.

“The hospital is full, there's no more space, patients sleep in the hall in order to be admitted,” Fredy Rojas, a pediatrician at the Santa Cruz Children's Hospital, told a local radio station.

“Many children get here in serious condition and there isn't enough time to reverse the situation.”

Also Read | King Charles Coronation: Here's Why the British Queen Consort Camilla Will Not Wear India's Kohinoor Diamond.

At least 26 people have died, Bolivia's health ministry said.

Dengue is endemic in Bolivia and proliferates in the country's east during its December-to-March rainy season.

It causes flu-like symptoms that most people recover from, but also can rapidly deteriorate blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding, organ failure and even death.

Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia have the highest incidence of the disease in South America, according to the World Health Organisation. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)