Belize Prepares for New World Screwworm Threat Amid Guatemala’s Confirmed Case

To address the imminent threat of the new world screwworm, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, held an information session today to discuss the way forward.  Belize was already on high alert due to the presence of the flesh-eating parasite in neighboring countries, when Guatemala confirmed a case in livestock last week. Today, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai, addressed the issue with the aid of a technical team. Mai says that even though Belize has not seen a case of screwworm in 30 years, it’s only a matter of time before the parasite makes its way back to the country.

Mai was accompanied by representatives from his ministry, the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA), and the International Regional Organization for Health in Agriculture (OIRSA). BAHA’s Director of Animal Health, Dr. Rosanna Alvarez explained that the parasite is transmitted by flies which bite open wounds on animals.

Belize currently has an estimated six thousand cattle farmers and an estimated two hundred thousand heads of cattle.