Over the past 61 days, the Tri­nidad and Tobago Pri­son Service says 72 inmates and seven prison officers have contracted the chickenpox (varicella) virus at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP).

​“Following the detection of the first recorded case on November 11, 2025, medical intervention and oversight was guided through direct collaboration with and professional recommendations of the Prisons Medical Officer (PMO), the Prisons Health Services, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the County Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), St George, to manage and contain the situation,” the service said in a release yesterday.

“Over the 61-day period of our management, there have been 72 cases of inmates and seven officers contracting the chickenpox. As of (yesterday’s) date, 29 inmates are actively being treated at the containment unit.