Belize Agricultural Health Authority and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture strengthen Belize’s fight against Screwworm

Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2025. 2:06 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma:  The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has donated 640 cans of Ciper-Clor and 250 units of Iverbest to the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) to support ongoing efforts to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS).

These veterinary supplies will help improve wound treatment, disrupt the pest’s life cycle, and prevent further infections in livestock across the country.

Since the first case was detected in December 2024, Belize has confirmed 63 cases of NWS, one of the lowest counts in Central America, with no human infections reported.

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Jose Abelardo Mai, shared the update during a regional meeting in El Salvador.

Notably, Belize has managed this without using the sterile fly release technique common in other countries.

In contrast, countries like Nicaragua have reported over 121,000 cases and nearly 100 human infections, underscoring Belize’s effective response.

Minister Mai credited this success to a coordinated national strategy led by BAHA, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA), farmers, and regional and international partners including IICA and OIRSA.

Minister Mai, who currently chairs the regional committee of Agriculture Ministers (CIRSA), is leading discussions on a joint eradication strategy for Central America. Belize’s approach will serve as a model in developing a region-wide plan, which will be presented to international agencies such as USDA/APHIS for support and funding.

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The post Belize Agricultural Health Authority and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture strengthen Belize’s fight against Screwworm appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2025. 2:06 pm CST. By Zoila Palma:  The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has donated 640 cans of Ciper-Clor and
The post Belize Agricultural Health Authority and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture strengthen Belize’s fight against Screwworm appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.