Outbreak of poultry disease in Belize

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

BELMOPAN, Belize – AGRICULTURAL authorities in Belize are trying to control an outbreak of the highly contagious Newcastle Disease in poultry.

According to Caribbean 360, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) recently revealed it has received confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture Laboratory that poultry specimens submitted from Belize have tested positive for the disease.

Virulent Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry and other birds. An outbreak in chickens may be so severe that almost all birds of an affected flock could die within 72 hours without noticeable signs.~~Adz:Right~~

The outbreak marks the first time the virulent form of the disease has been found in Belize, although the non-virulent form is known to have occurred in the country before.

According to a statement released by the Belizean government, the outbreak is being controlled with the assistance of government authorities, industry and international organisations.

The release further stated that the disease has no public health implications for people who are not occupationally exposed to poultry and that BAHA has increased and enhanced their inspection at all slaughter plants to ensure that all birds slaughtered are from healthy flocks.

Authorities have urged producers to inspect their poultry regularly, maintain good bio security practices and report suspicious clinical signs and unusual deaths promptly to BAHA.