Malaria Resurfaces in Belize: First Local Cases in Six Years Confirmed in Cayo

The Ministry of Health & Wellness is urging the public to stay alert following the confirmation of locally transmitted malaria cases in Belize—the first such cases in over six years.

The ministry announced today that four cases of malaria have been confirmed, three of which are due to local transmission. The cases were detected in Santa Elena Town and Cristo Rey Village in the Cayo District.

The initial case was identified on January 17, followed by additional detections on March 11 and April 5. One of the four confirmed cases has been classified as imported from Petén, Guatemala, while the remaining three are the result of local transmission.

Malaria is a febrile illness caused by parasites and transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected persons usually experience recurring episodes of fever, accompanied by chills and sweating, every 48 to 72 hours.

According to the ministry, the cases were identified through routine surveillance conducted at both public and private healthcare facilities. In response, the Vector Control Program, in collaboration with regional health surveillance officers, has swiftly launched multiple intervention measures, including:

• House-to-house fever screening
• Mosquito fogging and larviciding
• Community education campaigns on symptoms and prevention

All individuals diagnosed with malaria have since received supervised medical treatment and have tested negative on follow-up.

To prevent further transmission, enhanced surveillance has been activated in high-risk zones, particularly in the Santa Elena neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Hillview, as well as in Cristo Rey Village. Health teams are actively testing anyone who currently has—or recently had—a fever within the past 30 days.

The ministry is encouraging residents experiencing fever and chills, particularly those who have travelled to neighbouring countries, to visit the nearest health facility for free malaria testing.

In a public advisory, the ministry reminded citizens about the importance of preventing mosquito bites, especially when travelling to malaria-endemic areas. People are encouraged to:

• Use insect repellent.
• Sleep under bed nets.
• Clean yards and eliminate standing water around homes.