Kamla diagnosed with dengue

Kamla diagnosed with dengue Kamla Persad-Bissessar Tue, August 16, 2011 - 7:19 PMPORT-OF-SPAIN – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been diagnosed with dengue fever, but a statement from her office said that she is resting “comfortably”.
The statement said that Persad-Bissessar had been diagnosed with the classical type of dengue and that “it is the less severe strain”.
“While I was consulting with the Minister of Health (Dr Fuad Khan) 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.
“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.
“Let me also emphasise the need to immediately seek professional medical attention if you have any symptoms of dengue, which include fever, body pains and headaches, since treating the disease as an ordinary flu can cause more medical problems,” she said.
The prime minister said she had been advised that she could work from home while she continues to receive medical supervision.
“I will continue to run the affairs of state unless otherwise advised by my doctors that it is not practical so to do. 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,” she said.
Last week, the Ministry of Health said that more than 1 800 person had contracted the disease that was spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito. A nine year old child has since died as a result of the disease.
The government has since embarked upon an eradication programme across the country as well as a multi-media education and sensitization progrmme. (CMC)

get well soon kamla

Expert: T&T in midst of dengue outbreak Express, Trinidad: This country is in the middle of a dengue outbreak, Dr Rai Ragbir, the chairman of a special purpose State-board involved in the Government's fight against dengue, has said.

i had to google this

Dengue fever (UK: /ˈdɛŋɡeɪ/, US: /ˈdɛŋɡiː/), also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites.

Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. The incidence of dengue fever has increased dramatically since the 1960s, with around 50–100 million people infected yearly. Early descriptions of the condition date from 1779, and its viral cause and the transmission were elucidated in the early 20th century. Dengue has become a worldwide problem since the Second World War and is endemic in more than 110 countries. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing on a vaccine, as well as medication targeted directly at the virus.