Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been diagnosed with dengue. Her diagnosis has come on the heels of growing concern by worried citizens that there may be a dengue epidemic in T&T. A statement, issued by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, said Persad-Bissessar was forced to work at home after contracting dengue fever. Dengue fever also is referred as the classical type of the disease. In the statement, Persad-Bissessar said she was "recently diagnosed" with dengue during a vigorous educational and sensitisation campaign about the disease. "While I was consulting with the Minister of Health on how to enhance and intensify the education drive Government has embarked on to sensitise the population on dengue fever, I became a victim of it myself," Persad-Bissessar said. She said the fact she had contracted the disease was an indication that not even the Prime Minister was immune.
Even in her time of illness Persad-Bissessar sent a stern warning to citizens to be aware of their environment and dispose of garbage properly. "This indicates that no one is immune from this dangerous disease and it reinforces that the entire population must be extremely vigilant and take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting dengue, especially with children," Persad-Bissessar urged. Saying she was still looking after the business of the country by working at home, Persad-Bissessar added: "On a personal note, I have been advised that I can work from my home office while I continue to receive medical supervision. "I will continue to run the affairs of State, unless otherwise advised by doctors that it is not practical to do so," Persad-Bissessar added. The Prime Minister also assured members of the public she would return soon to her normal duties at her St Clair office.
"I wish to inform the population that despite my illness I am following all medical instructions so as to ensure that I will soon be back on my feet and fully functioning," Persad-Bissessar added.
She said the Health Ministry continued to enforce "aggressive" aedes aegypti mosquito eradication programmes across T&T. "Furthermore, the Ministries of Health, Communications, Local Government and Education have embarked on a multi-media education and sensitisation programme across Trinidad and Tobago to combat the dengue outbreak on several fronts," Persad-Bissessar maintained. Three weeks ago, Asia Archibald, eight, a pupil of the Arima Girls' RC School, died from dengue fever. Days after Asia's death, three siblings - Jaydon, two, Eli, one, and Bonte Vialva, five months - were admitted to the San Fernando General Hospital after being tested positively for dengue.
Classical Type Dengue
Dengue fever (often called just dengue) is a mosquito-borne, viral infection that causes a severe, flu-like illness. In some people, a potentially life-threatening complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever can occur.
Classic dengue fever
Symptoms of typical, uncomplicated (classic) dengue usually start suddenly within four to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito and can include the following:
• High fever, up to 105° F (40.5° C);
• severe headaches;
• pain behind the eyes, called retro-orbital pain;
• severe joint and muscle pains;
• nausea and vomiting;
• loss of appetite;
• rash;
• the rash may appear over most of the body three to four days after the fever begins and then subside after one to two days. A second rash may appear a few days later;
• young children generally experience a milder case of this classic form of dengue with only fever and rash; and
• most symptoms of classic dengue resolve within one to two weeks but weakness, tiredness and loss of appetite my persist for several weeks.