Belize Remains Free of Reported Screwworm Cases

Belize is still free from the New World Screwworm, but for how long? Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai has been holding weekly meetings with his technical teams to stay updated on the rising cases of New World Screwworms in the region. Today, one of these meetings took place in Yo Creek Village. After the meeting, we caught up with Minister Mai and BAHA’s Managing Director, Zoe Robinson-Zetina, for the latest update. In short, new cases are popping up in neighboring countries, and experts think it’s only a matter of time before Belize sees its first case. Meanwhile, strict surveillance measures are being put in place. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A single case of the New World Screwworm in Mexico recently prompted the United States to ban cattle imports. Now, cases are cropping up in larger numbers in neighboring Honduras and Guatemala. During a technical meeting in Orange Walk, BAHA’s Managing Director, Zoe Robinson-Zetina, discussed the issue with Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai.

 

Zoe Robinson-Zetina, Managing Director, BAHA

“First I want to confirm that we do not have screwworms in Belize and we are going through active surveillance to ensure we know the health status of our country. In our surrounding countries, we pay special attention to Guatemala, because they are the closest to us. And we know that Guatemala right now is reporting twenty-six cases and the closest case to us is in the far western area of Peten. And in that region they have only on reported case. The next closest to us is Honduras and Honduras is reporting just over seventy cases. And we believe that Honduras has been maintain or controlling the spread in that country.”

 

When the New World Screwworm burrows into an animal’s flesh, it can cause serious, often fatal damage. Studies show that the rise in reported cases is largely due to the illegal movement of cattle. Interestingly, Belize doesn’t import animals, which adds a unique twist to the situation.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture 

“There are about five important thing that you do to keep screw worm out or suppressed. The first one is education and awareness. Are we doing it? Yes. Are we doing it to the right people? Yes. Those that live on the periphery and the borders to the country of Guatemala. The second one is control point. Do not move animals form infected areas or do not move animals if you suspect it is. The third is treat wounds. Are we treating the wounds, yes. We are telling the farmers now you cannot have animals wounded on the farm then treat it. If there are no wounds then the fly cannot bear eggs. If the cannot bear an egg it dies. The fourth one is report all cases fast. And the last is the dispersal of sterile flies.”

 

The New World Screwworm poses the greatest threat to the local cattle industry, which is now valued at one hundred million dollars, according to Minister Mai. The risk of Mexico and Guatemala banning the import of Belize’s cattle is real. Minister Mai recently returned from a working trip to Mexico.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“As a matter of fact the Mexicans have been stopped from exporting cattle to the U.S. this is a serious matter. The U.S.D.A has banned Mexico from exporting cattle into the U.S.A for one screw worm in southern part of Mexico. So this is how serious they look at their cattle industry and the Mexican associations that represent eight hundred thousand cattle farmers wrote to their ministry of agriculture asking him to ban us and I said to them, we are the only country that has a program in place. The ministry of agriculture is a screwworm veteran. He knows what it is. So we quickly moved, as a matter of fact, the resources that government has put towards screwworm control right now is more than we get from the region. This is how serious the government is looking at this.”

 

Regarding the measures BAHA has put in place along the border, Managing Director Zetina mentioned that they’ve ramped up surveillance at both official and unofficial border points.

 

Zoe Robinson-Zetina

“We are doing active surveillance, and we are stremghtening our border points, both official and unofficial. We know it is no secret that we have agriculture goods going through Jalacte and Bullet Tree. What is good for Belize is that we are not importing animals in Belize. It is exportation that we do. But we are strnething those two check points for BAHA. We are manning them twenty-four hours to ensure there are no animals coming into this country. And also, for any vehicles that are passing through those points. To ensure that they are free and clear of any material that can transport the pest.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Can BAHA monitor pastures that have been cleared illegally by Guatemalans that have incurred on Belizean lands?”

 

Zoe Robinson-Zetina

“As long as that property is on Belizean terrorist then BAHA has jurisdiction to do surveillance and we are doing that at this time.”

 

The Ministry of Agriculture has already drafted an S.I. to quarantine a particular area in Belize wherever the New World Screwworm is detected. And, the experts believe that it is only a matter of time before Belize reports its first case.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“The worst case scenario is we have a case in Toledo. Plan, block off Toledo, control points in place which we have already, we have the S.I. ready, we have everything ready, block of Toledo, put the control in place. Twenty-four hours and work that area backwards to the border. Pump the area, saturate the area with sterile flies.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What is your response to the notion that it is an inevitable.”

 

Zoe Robinson-Zetina

“It is more than likely true. It is spreading so rapidly in Central America that we believe yes ti will be introduced in Belize. Like I said, it is people who are moving it. But people can move it through cattle, but they can also be brining their pet, dogs, pet cats, but it can come on people themselves as well.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.