Belize Reports 63 Cases of Screw Worm as Region Battles Outbreak

Belize now has more than sixty confirmed cases of new world screw worm, that’s the latest information coming from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise. Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai, at the recent 93^rd extraordinary meeting of the International Regional Committee on Agricultural Health (CIRSA), for its acronym in Spanish, which was held in El Salvador. The meeting saw ministers of agriculture from nine countries in the region, meet to discuss pertinent issues affecting agriculture including efforts to combat the screw worm. Mai, who chaired the CIRSA meeting, said that Belize has 63 cases, almost double what was reported in late March, and no human cases. This contrasts sharply with Nicaragua, which has reported 94 human cases amidst its staggering total of over 121-thousand animal cases – the highest in the region. Other countries facing significant numbers include Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras. El Salvador has reported over 1,100 cases, mostly in pets, while Mexico has over 1,000, including one human case. Guatemala reports 555 cases, though regional partners acknowledge challenges with their surveillance system. Minister Mai credited Belize’s comparatively low numbers to proactive planning and effective fieldwork carried out by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and other stakeholders. Participating countries also discussed a regional plan and budget for the eradication of the NWS, and this will be presented to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and other agencies for consideration.