Belize issues High Alert for New World Screwworm after detection in Guatemala

Published by [email protected] at October 30, 2024

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Posted: Wednesday, October 30, 2024. 1:18 pm CST.

Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has issued a high alert following the confirmation of two New World Screwworm (NWS) cases in Guatemala and has elevated the risk level to extremely high due to Belize’s proximity to affected countries.

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Guatemala reported cases of NWS in cattle in Los Amates, Izabal, located just 44 miles from the Belize-Guatemala southern border.

BAHA said the New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a highly prolific and devastating parasite that can affect all mammals, including humans.

“This highly prolific and devastating parasite has been continuously spreading through Central America mainly due to the illegal movement of animals,” BAHA said I a statement on Wednesday.

“The introduction of this disease could endanger health, safety, food security, and livelihoods.”

To prevent the entry of New World Screwworm into Belize, BAHA urges producers, transporters, and the public to take the following precautions:

• Inspect animals regularly and manage tick infestations.

• Carry out preventative treatment of all wounds on animals, including dehorning, navels on newborns, ear tagging, tail docking, castration, and branding.

• Notify BAHA of live animals with lesions or wounds with larvae or “maggots.”

• Avoid transporting animals with wounds.

Suspected cases of larval infestations in animals can be reported to the BAHA Animal Health Department offices at 302-1388 in Orange Walk, 824-4872 in Central Farm, or via text at 670-7003. For more information, BAHA may also be reached by emailing [email protected].

“As Belizeans, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the New World Screwworm does not enter Belize,” BAHA said.

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise has been at the forefront in preparing the country for the eventuality of the pest’s incursion. Just last week, Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai led a delegation to Honduras and Panama to learn more about how these countries are managing their measures to control the spread and eradicate the devastating pest.

Following the Guatemalan authorities’ confirmation of their first cases on Tuesday, the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), based in El Salvador, issued a regional alert. The first cases in Central America were reported in Panama in July 2023 and has since spread to Costa Rica, followed by Nicaragua. Honduras confirmed the presence of the pest in mid-September.

Guatemala, like Belize, had been screwworm free for the last 30 years.

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