Belize Agricultural Health Authority

Since January, Belize has been facing a rapid increase in cases of New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), with the outbreak spreading beyond its initial containment in the Toledo District. By March 21st, authorities confirmed 33 cases across multiple districts, including Cayo, Belize District, and Orange Walk. This shows a significant rise from the eight cases reported in February, indicating a growing threat to the country's livestock sector.

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) inform the public that a suspected case of New World Screwworm (NWS) is being investigated in the southwestern Toledo District. BAHA has dispatched technical teams to conduct the investigation, and the public will be advised of the progress.

On the 29th of October 2024, Guatemala confirmed cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) around Los Amates, Izabal, located 44 miles from the Belize-Guatemala southern border. Both confirmed cases were in bovines (cattle).

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority reminds its partners, stakeholders, and the public that it continues to closely monitor the Zoosanitary situation of the region and, particularly, the New World Screwworm situation in Central America. Nicaragua has now declared a National Animal Health Alert due to reported cases of New World Screwworm, now raising the number to three affected countries in Central America, including Costa Rica and Panama.

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) reminds all importers, suppliers, supermarkets, market vendors and the public that importing agricultural products without the necessary permit is illegal and that the possession of illegally imported agricultural products is prohibited. Anyone caught with illegal products will be fined and/or prosecuted according to SI#34 of 2022 of the BAHA Act (Chapter 211 of the Substantive Laws of Belize revised edition 2020).

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, through the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), continues to closely monitor the outbreak of New World screwworms in Central America. Scientifically named Cochliomyia hominivorax, countries like Panama and Costa Rica continue to be affected by screwworm outbreaks. While there are yet-to-be-reported cases in Belize, authorities remain on high alert as a possible outbreak can adversely affect the livestock, small stock, and avian industries.

A limitation to increasing trade of fish and fisheries productsin Belize is the restricted capacity of the sector to conduct tests indicating that products do indeed meet international market standards. Funded by the European Union, a key activity of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures Project is to improve laboratory testing capacity for the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the CARIFORUM Region. As part of this activity, technical assistance has been provided to the Belize Agricultural Health Authority’s (BAHA) Central Investigation Laboratory (CIL) through training, technical guidance, and the provision of equipment. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the executing body, and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is a major partner in the implementation of this SPS Action.

To combat the issue of contraband in the agriculture sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has established a standing Vegetable Interdiction Team (VIT) comprising officials from various government departments and agencies.