LAHORE, Oct 17: Dengue virus claimed seven more lives, including five women, in the provincial metropolis on Monday taking the death toll to 262. Some 280 new cases were reported in various public and private hospitals.

Khalida, 52, of Mughalpura, and Mussarat Bano, 53, of Sanatnagar died at Services Hospital; Amna Javaid, 36, of Krishanagar, Tanveer, 25, of Mozang at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital; Shahjahan, 42, of Thokhar Niaz Beg, and Hina, 18, of Model Town at Jinnah Hospital, and Anwari Bibi, 60, of Mughalpura at Ghurki Hospital.

Out of the 280 new cases, 52 were tested positive at Mayo Hospital, 32 at the Institute of Public Health, 26 at Jinnah, 23 at Services, 19 each at General and Ganga Ram, 18 at Children Hospital and 91 at various private hospitals.

Agriculture Secretary Arif Nadeem told the media at least 208 confirmed dengue patients -- 165 in Lahore -- were reported in Punjab during the last 24 hours.

He said dengue claimed eight lives during the last 24 hours. The eighth victim belonged to Toba Tek Singh.

The secretary said the total number of dengue patients in the province rose to 17,372, including 14,955 in Lahore.

He said some 1,228 patients were under treatment in different hospitals of the province. Of them 1,043 were admitted to Lahore hospitals.