Dengue fever has claimed 304 lives so far this year in Cambodia, almost double the number from all of 2006, as an outbreak across Southeast Asia continues.

As of July 29, there have been 27,265 cases of dengue in Cambodia and 304 deaths, said Ngan Chantha, the Ministry of Health's dengue program manager, quoted Friday in the Cambodia Daily.

The mosquito-borne disease, also known as "bone break fever," has swept through Southeast Asia this year, worrying health officials across the region.

The three worst-hit Cambodian provinces have been Kompong Cham, with 4,090 cases and 57 deaths, Kandal with 3,220 cases and 28 deaths, and Siem Reap with 3,619 cases and 29 deaths, Ngan Chantha said.

Takeo province was the next worse with 2,935 cases and 33 deaths, and Phnom Penh is fifth, with 2,555 cases and 15 deaths, he said.

"The situation is much better, but we still need more help. Dengue season is not yet finished," Ngan Chantha said, according to the Daily.

In 2006, 158 people died from the mosquito-borne virus, according to official statistics.