Islamabad, Sep 18 (NationPress) A total of 12 staff members, including supervisors, associated with the anti-dengue initiative in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, have been terminated for failing to report for work while deceptively recording their attendance, as reported by local media on Thursday.

The health department revealed that both male and female personnel were caught sending fraudulent images to indicate their presence during inspections. Ongoing investigations are looking into the lapses that occurred during the anti-dengue efforts, as reported by the Pakistani daily The Express Tribune.

In the last 24 hours, Rawalpindi has reported 20 new dengue infections, with ongoing anti-dengue measures being implemented throughout the district. The total dengue case count in Rawalpindi has reached 394, with 81 individuals currently receiving treatment in local hospitals, including 38 confirmed cases. Fortunately, no fatalities due to dengue have been reported this season.

Earlier this month, health officials cautioned that dengue cases in Rawalpindi and the neighboring region of Murree were escalating at a rate faster than in 2024. At that time, 51 cases were recorded in Rawalpindi and 56 in Murree, with numerous breeding sites for larvae discovered during inspections. Authorities closed down hundreds of these sites and filed FIRs for violations of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Additionally, stringent anti-dengue SOPs have been implemented in schools across Rawalpindi, where the Education Department has prohibited the use of chemical sprays, mandated full-sleeve uniforms, and established a daily “zero period” dedicated to dengue prevention.

The Federal government of Pakistan has initiated the National Anti-Dengue Campaign 2025. Mustafa Kamal, the Health Minister, emphasized the importance of prevention and urged citizens to adopt safe practices to eradicate mosquito breeding.

Dengue is a viral illness transmitted from mosquitoes to humans and is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions than in temperate climates, according to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO). Most individuals infected with dengue do not exhibit symptoms.

The most common manifestations of dengue include headache, high fever, body aches, nausea, and rash, as per WHO. Most patients recover within 1–2 weeks; however, some may develop severe dengue and require hospitalization. Severe cases of dengue can be life-threatening.