Prime Minister contracts dengue fever

Port-of-Spain: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been diagnosed with dengue fever and is now resting at home receiving medical care and supervision.

The Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement this afternoon saying the prime minister has a classical type of dengue, which is the less severe strain.

The prime minister says that while she was consulting with the Minister of Health, Dr Fuad Khan, on how to enhance and intensify the education drive the government has embarked upon, she became a victim herself.

She says this is an indication that no one is immune to this dangerous disease and reinforces that the entire population must be extremely vigilant and take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting dengue, especially with children.

The prime minister says she has been advised that she can continue to work from her home office and can also continue running the affairs of the state unless otherwise advised by her doctors that it is not practical to do so.

She was carded to attend the United Nation's event on women's political participation at the Diplomatic Centre at noon today.

Meanwhile Education Minister Dr Tim Goopeesingh, who is a medical doctor, says there is no need for the country to panic. He says hundreds of people contract the same strain of dengue fever that the prime minister has contracted and recover quickly from it.

He says there will be a complete monitoring of the prime minister on a daily basis to check her blood count and to ensure that there is no superficial bleeding. He says once there are no such symptoms, then there is no need for a blood transfusion or any increased medical applications.