Man died of dengue, not food poisoning

AN autopsy carried out on Tuesday on the body of a La Brea welder, who police suspected had died from food poisoning, revealed the man died of complications caused by the mosquito-borne disease, dengue. Relatives of 23-year-old Collin Pierre told police that last Friday he left work at Lake Asphalt to go to a Point Fortin restaurant for lunch. Police reports stated that soon after eating the meal at the restaurant, Pierre returned to work. Minutes later he started vomiting and was taken to the nearby Lake Asphalt Medical Centre for treatment. Pierre was examined by a doctor, treated and sent home to rest.

However, he awoke from sleep around 7 am the following day and started vomiting again. Moments later, a trembling Pierre fainted. Concerned relatives contacted an EHS ambulance, but decided to take him in their car to the Point Fortin Hospital. Pierre died shortly after arriving at the hospital. A report was made to the La Brea police and investigators took food samples from the restaurant for testing, since it was believed that Pierre died of food poisoning. However, the autopsy which was done at the Forensic Science Centre by pathologist Dr Hughvon De Vignes, confirmed dengue as the cause of death. As such, police have now ruled that Pierre died of natural causes and their investigations have ended.