Belize Continues Cattle Export as Screwworm Cases Increase

Belize has reported its fifth case of New World Screwworm just under a month after the first case was identified in the Toledo District. News Five has confirmed that four of them were discovered in cattle and the fifth in a dog. With the cattle industry being one of the largest contributors to Belize’s exports, there are concerns about the potential impact if infections aren’t contained. However, Prime Minister Briceño reassures everyone that there’s no need to worry—protocols have been put in place, and Mexico is still accepting cattle from Belize.

 

Prime Minster John Briceño

“It is expected. We did not bring the screwworm it is a stupid mistake done in Panama when they released the insects in error and that progressively came to us. They didn’t put enough effort to stop it back then. Now it is here and we are trying our best to contain it. What is important is that we are worked out a protocol with the Mexicans on how to export our cattle. This is not something that affects the meat. If you see the animal with the screwworm you cure it and five days later it is a healthy animal. So the plan is we have a coral area where we inspect the animal in Belize and it goes over to the Mexican side and they inspect. If they see any animal with signs of screwworm, they send it back, we cure it and five six days later we can send it back.”