Pet owners and livestock farmers, listen up, there’s a growing threat you need to know about. Screwworm cases are on the rise again in Belize, and now, for the first time, the deadly parasite has been found in our wildlife. Two howler monkeys in the Cayo District recently tested positive for New World screwworm, marking a troubling milestone. Since the first case was detected back in January, over one hundred and sixty infections have been confirmed across the country. This afternoon, we spoke with Doctor Isabelle Paquet-Durand from the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, who gave us more insight into the outbreak, and what you can do to protect your animals.
“We have treated so we have sadly received another case already that could not be treated because it was too severe. The one from Monday evening, however, is still under treatment. He is unfortunately still very much in critical condition because the injuries were all the way down to the bone and we are still trying our very best to stabilize this monkey. But the prognosis is still very questionable, sadly. By now very much in the Cayo district, and in most districts minus the Corozal District, I think it’s becoming more and more numerous. So the authority on this is BAHA., who has the numbers of cases that are reported to them in the different districts and species as well. So it’s been going on and it continues to spread unfortunately.”
Britney Gordon
“So what is the recommendation to the public given the large number of cases that we’re seeing right now?”
On the Phone: Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand
“The recommendation is to check your animals every day because the best way to protect us and wildlife here is to keep our domestic animals free of any wounds. And if there are any wounds, to treat those wounds. And if there are any wounds with larva or worms in them, then immediately call your nearest vet who can help with treatment because the disease is very much treatable. But it needs to be found early and quick because the, it only takes one week on the animal to develop fully.”