7 Farms in Blue Creek, 1 in Shipyard under Quarantine for Bird Flu

Today, the Ministry of Agriculture held a press conference to provide an update on the avian influenza that was detected in chicken farms up north in Orange Walk. C.E.O. Servulo Baeza began by prefacing that it was not the virus, but antibodies of a bird flu that was discovered in several samples taken from farms in Blue Creek and Shipyard. This means that the birds had recovered from the virus and early indications are that the virus is mild and the mortality rate is low. The officials also shared that massive surveillance indicates that eight farms were affected; two have been depopulated and six remain under quarantine. Director of Animal Health at the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, Doctor Miguel Depaz breaks down what has happened so far.

Miguel Depaz

Dr. Miguel Depaz, Director of Animal Health Department, BAHA

“We have eight farms that have been diagnosed with the antibodies. We have those farms under quarantine. The first two farms, we did depopulate, so there are six more farms under quarantine and having a clearer picture now, we have actually modified the strategy, BAHA along with the Belize Poultry Association and the Ministry of Agriculture, we are modifying the strategy now that we know it is pointing towards low pathogenicity of the virus. And there are other measures. I did mention movement control. There will be disinfection of the hatchery, cleaning and disinfection of those positive barns. And if you want to move birds, you need a permit from BAHA. For us to issue those permits, the birds would have had to test negative for avian influenza. So we are giving the public lots of assurance that we will have this disease under control and that the poultry and poultry products are safe for human consumption.”