The Trinidad and Tobago

government on Monday said it is not aware of any case of the deadly coronavirus

being detected in the Caribbean country.

Prime Minister Dr Keith

Rowley, responding to questions in Parliament, said his administration “is very

alert” as it relates to the virus that has killed more than 56 people in China.

“The Ministry of Health is

preparing a note for the Cabinet on this matter and the appropriate decision

will be taken and at the appropriate time the population will be informed,” he

said.

The World Health

Organisation (WHO) says there have been imported cases being reported by the

United States and other countries, including Thailand and the Republic of

Korea.

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Coronaviruses are a large

family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more

severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe

Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Common signs of infection

include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing

difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute

respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Asked by an opposition

legislator to confirm whether there are any confirmed cases of the virus in

Trinidad and Tobago “at the moment,’ Rowley replied: “As far as the government

of Trinidad and Tobago is aware we are not in a position to confirm any such,

but the Ministry of Health (Terrence Deyalsingh) has pointed out that the

nature of the virus is such that if you are not presenting with a temperature

to be identified and if you are….a symptomatic…that is not a proof that you are

not carrying the virus.

“So, we are in no position

…to confirm that we have, and I think that’s a good position to be in at this

time,” Rowley added.