Belize Monitors Screw-Worm Outbreak in Costa Rica: Agricultural Concerns Raised

The Ministry of Agriculture has expressed concerns over reports of a screw-worm outbreak in Costa Rica.  While Belize and Costa Rica are more than a thousand miles apart, Minister Abelardo Mai says they are keeping an eye on the development. A health emergency was declared last week in Costa Rica as more than 200 cases have been confirmed in the country’s cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and dogs.  Screwworm is a disease caused by the larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) fly that deposits its eggs in any open wound of a warm-blooded animal, including people. Hours after they have been deposited, the worms hatch, which feed on living tissue.  According to National Health Service. Animal Health (Senasa), 203 cases of screwworm have been detected in recent months, of which there are 5 active and 198 have been controlled.  The cases have occurred in various areas of the country, but mainly in the south, near the border with Panama.  In order to eradicate the screwworm, the authorities have carried out active surveillance on the farms where cases are detected and suspicious complaints are attended to at livestock auctions, veterinary pharmacies and residential homes.  As part of the control measures carried out by Senasa, around 15 million sterile male flies are being dispersed and traps were placed to identify the presence of the fly in order to define the affected areas and establish control measures.