Press Release – Government Press Office, Belmopan – September 15, 2011 – The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has implemented an emergency poultry disease control measure upon receiving official confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture laboratory in Ames, Iowa (an OIE Reference Laboratory) that poultry specimens have tested positive for Fowl Typhoid in the Orange Walk district.
This is not the first time that Fowl Typhoid is being reported in Belize as the last outbreak occurred in 1986 when both commercial and backyard poultry were affected throughout the country. Although vaccines are available to control the disease, BAHA, along with the poultry industry, has decided to continue to prohibit vaccination. As a result, emergency control measures are being taken. Fowl Typhoid is strictly a bird disease affecting mostly chickens and turkeys.
The government’s competent authorities have set up a coordinated incident command structure with the industry to contain the outbreak. All birds considered infected have been destroyed and buried on site. Bio security has been stepped up at all levels throughout the area where the outbreak occurred, movement controls are in place, farmers are being educated about the disease and BAHA is maintaining an early warning and response system. Inspection of poultry farms before slaughter of birds along with heightened inspection and strict sanitation measures at all poultry establishments are also in place.
Given the effective rapid coordinated response and surveillance system, it is not expected that Fowl Typhoid would spread. As a result, the impact is not anticipated to compare to 1986 when there were major economic and social effects on a national scale.
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For more information, contact:
Mr. Miguel Depaz
BAHA
Tel: 501-634-9258
e-mail: [email protected]
