BAHA Says “Screwworm is No Longer an Emergency”

Farmers in Cayo have raised concerns about cattle deaths linked to screwworm infestations, but the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) says the issue is being managed and urges producers to keep reporting cases.

Deputy Technical Director for Animal Health, Salustino Pech, explained that BAHA is not responsible for tagging cattle, which is handled by the Belize Livestock Association. Instead, BAHA oversees the national response to screwworm, working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and OIRSA.

Pech noted that screwworm is not a new threat and has long been present in Belize, with cases reported across Belize and in “all species present already”. He added, “screwworm is no longer an emergency. At this point, many people have had multiple cases, and they’re aware, and they’re treating it by themselves as well.”

He stressed the importance of continued reporting so authorities can properly track the spread and respond where necessary, adding that while responses can sometimes take more than 24 hours, cases are generally attended to within 48 hours.

“Upon the first visit, the farmer will get all the assistance that he requires and he will be trained as well on what to do. Then, whenever more cases arise, then the person should be able to manage the cases by himself,” Pech said. He added that farmers who need further help can always call for additional assistance.