Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2025. 6:28 pm CST.
Calf that was infected with New World Screwworm in Crique Sarco, Toledo – Photo Credit: MAFSE
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Five cases of New World Screwworm have been reported in Belize, according to information Breaking Belize News has received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE).
So far, however, the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Livestock Screwworm (COPEG) Lab in Panama has only confirmed two cases in Belize. The other three, for now, are considered suspected cases. The COPEG Lab is the only laboratory in the Americas that produces sterile flies.
The cases have been identified in two locations in the southernmost district of Toledo, near the Guatemala border, in the villages of Crique Sarco and San Pedro Columbia. The Agriculture Ministry reported that the first case was found in Crique Sarco in southwestern Toledo on Friday, December 28, 2024.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), within MAFSE, has deployed additional personnel to the border areas, particularly to Jalacte, the border crossing into Guatemala. However, it has been noted that the two outbreaks, which are under heavy surveillance, have occurred in Crique Sarco and San Pedro Columbia, which are a distance away from Jalacte.
Luis Pook, Director of Communications at MAFSE, mentioned that it is believed that New World Screwworm fly colonies are regenerating within the country. Farmers in the affected areas are taking preventive measures, and it is crucial to check animals regularly.
The New World Screwworm fly is known to be attracted to open wounds, and there is evidence of bat bites on exposed animals. Pook emphasized the importance of farmers and animal owners giving particular attention to their animals and checking for open wounds constantly. He noted that in one case, an ear tag wound attracted the New World Screwworm.
The reported cases include four cattle and one dog. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise urges farmers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm disease.
Pook also reiterated that the NWS fly affects not only cattle, but all warm-blooded animals. That means humans can also be affected.
MAFSE Minister Jose Abelardo Mai has been visiting the affected areas and other villages, such as Jalacte and San Vicente, as part of the MAFSE’s effort to curb the incidence of New World Screwworm cases.
For more information, please contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise.
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