Increased Threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu to Belize

Armando Cowo

And, while BAHA plans to host training sessions for stakeholders within the industry, Belize remains threatened by the highly infectious Avian Flu. Early last month, we reported that the industry is on high alert following confirmation of the virus in neighbouring Mexico and Honduras. And while we haven’t heard much more since then, Cowo says the threat has only increased.

Armando Cowo, Manager, Belize Poultry Association

“The updates are not too good because we have more countries reporting more pelicans with high pathogenic AI. Fortunately for us it has not been reported in Belize. We are actively surveillance. We are out there with our partners. We are collecting samples and testing. Thankfully we have come up with negatives. People call and say pelicans are dying but when we go there and do the sampling and testing it is negative. A couple of them we realized that they are hurt somebody stone them and therefore they can’t feed so they die. I don’t know. But, we are concerned and we are at a high level of alert industry wide. The problem has been reported in the north coast of Honduras which is the entire Bay of Honduras and in Yucatan. So, we are in the middle of two focal points. Right, and being in the middle we don’t know when it will be our turn. But, we are keeping our fingers crossed and surveillance.”