Two Imported Cases of Malaria Confirmed in Belize

Belize may have earned its malaria‑free status, but health officials are reminding everyone that the fight isn’t over. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed two imported cases in Crique Sarco Village down in the Toledo District, infections brought in from outside the country, but still close enough to raise concern. They say the cases underscore just how easily malaria can slip back in through travel, especially with our borders so close to areas where the disease is still active. Belize keeps its malaria‑free designation, but the Chief Vector Control Officer says surveillance remains tight, and travelers heading to rural, forested, or border communities should take extra steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

 

Kim Bautista, Chief Vector Control Officer, Ministry of Health & Wellness

“What prompted this is whereby we’re seeing a pattern in terms of persons traveling to certain endemic areas and returning to country positive. And what that does is it basically, you have communities that are highly at risk for malaria, reestablishment and so the ministry side fit to make the public aware of these two cases. And also measures that could be put in place to prevent such occurrence. And also to highlight some of the signs and symptoms since it has been quite some time since we had reported local cases. Now you are correct in terms of, whenever you do have these imported cases at times they also you may also have a case that may be directly linked to that, that imported case. Those tend to be classified as, as, as introduced and it does not signify. Local reestablishment  and so it does not compromise the status that has been designated to the country as a malaria free country. For that designation to be revoked by the World Health Organization, you would have to have local transmission for a period of three consecutive years. And so that of course we’re not nowhere near that as yet. But what we are doing is just to ensure that we keep the public abreast. They know that the risks are still there and, and know that the testing is available free of cost. The treatment is available free of cost.”

 

Health officials say the best defense now is awareness, urging anyone traveling to high‑risk areas to protect themselves and get tested at the first sign of symptoms.

 

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