Minister Bernard Urges Early Screwworm Care

Health officials didn’t waste any time once screwworm cases were confirmed in Belize. Minister Kevin Bernard says teams were out in communities right away, talking with residents and raising awareness. He’s stressing that while screwworms can be treated, they can become deadly if ignored, so early medical attention is key.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“The Ministry had been engaging immediately when the issue of screwworm and because it now has hit humans the ministry has engaged in constant communication through our social media pages, we have been on the media, our public health officials are out on the ground and doing sensitization across the country. We have to make sure that people understand what the screwworm can cause. As they said, it is treatable illness, but if left untreated it can also kill you. So, we have to ensure people are very much aware. I must thank the team at the Ministry of Agriculture, through BAHA and the minister who has been very responsive, working with the Ministry of Health, in terms of the quick response, our surveillance team. The minute we were able to identify and verify through the BAHA lab, we were getting those patients treated and the necessary medication.”