BAHA conducts routine Avian Influenza surveillance amid regional outbreaks

Published by [email protected] at April 28, 2025

Posted: Monday, April 28, 2025. 11:14 am CST.

Baby chicks are imported from the United States. Photo Credit: BAHA

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is carrying out its scheduled avian influenza surveillance this April and May, as migratory birds travel north to destinations as far as Canada. Later in the year, BAHA will repeat its surveillance in October and November, when the birds migrate south to South America. These biannual efforts aim to safeguard the country’s poultry industry and public health from avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The virus has been detected in several states in the United States, as well as in Guatemala and Panama.

Avian influenza, currently a concern in the United States, can also affect humans. While treatable in people, the disease poses a greater threat to birds, particularly on poultry farms, where mass euthanasia is often required to contain outbreaks. Such measures can be devastatingly costly for farmers and the broader poultry industry.

Dr. Johnatan Pech, Deputy Technical Director of Animal Health at BAHA, shared insights into the situation, emphasizing the importance of vigilance.

“Fortunately, we have not confirmed any cases of avian influenza in Belize. Our surveillance system is robust, covering commercial farms and backyard farms in high-risk areas every six months,” Dr. Pech said.

“We normally do it around the months of April and May, as well as in October and November. We do it because of the migratory birds.”

Migratory birds, particularly ducks, pose a significant risk as they stop to drink water during their journeys, potentially spreading the virus.

BAHA conducts avian influenza surveillance of chickens, both poultry farms and backyard chicken coops. Photo Credit: BAHA

Neighbouring countries have reported outbreaks, with Panama confirming an cases as recently as January. Dr. Pech expressed concern, noting that Belize imports significant quantities of poultry products, including baby chicks and over a million hatching eggs annually from the United States. Stringent import requirements, such as laboratory testing and proof of vaccination, must be met to ensure the safety of these imports.

In the event of an outbreak in Belize, immediate containment measures would be implemented, including the culling of infected birds.

“We have the capacity to diagnose the disease within 24 hours, which is crucial for a rapid response,” Dr. Pech explained in reference to BAHA’s Central Lab in Spanish Lookout.

BAHA’s efforts extend beyond avian influenza, as the authority also conducts surveillance for Newcastle disease, another illness affecting birds. In 2021, an outbreak of Newcastle disease occurred in Toledo, further underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and preventive measures.

Dr. Pech highlighted the effectiveness of Belize’s surveillance system, which relies on public cooperation to report signs of illness in birds.

“Our system is quite remarkable in the region. Fortunately, we are a small country, so we can test the animals easily, and the community is very receptive to us,” he said.

Pech added that BAHA depends on the cooperation of farmers and the public to maintain Belize’s status as free of avian influenza, advising everyone to contact BAHA immediately if they observe any signs of illness in birds, such as discoloration or unusual behaviour.

As bird flu cases continue to rise in the United States and across the region, Pech stated that BAHA remains committed to protecting Belize’s poultry industry and public health through proactive measures and regional collaboration.

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