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Sat 31 Oct, 2009 05:51 am
numbers were stratospheric = numbers increased dramatically?
Context:
Although no incidents of swine flu in North Korea have been officially reported, and it is unlikely that the authorities would report them in any case unless numbers were stratospheric, it is true that there is a high possibility of an explosive outbreak in a destitute country such as North Korea.
@oristarA,
It means "very, very high". Not necessarily "increased dramatically", just very high.