Livestock producers cautiously optimistic that there will be no major outbreak of blackleg or rabies

 While the diseases are serious, Dr. Andre DePaz says that vaccination can significantly help in controlling the spread. We asked him whether livestock producers are worried that there will be a significant outbreak of rabies, blackleg or both. He said that while the industry is monitoring carefully, they are cautiously optimistic that there will be no major impacts on the industry as a whole. 

Dr.Andre DePaz, Veterinarian, Belize Livestock Producers Association: “For the rabies part its two cases and various farmers are vaccinated already so we hope that there’s no more cases. As for the black leg yes there is more cases seen so it’s a concern especially for the black leg because it’s a deadly disease and can kill your animal in twelve to forty eight hours. Sometimes it happens so fast that it doesn’t show any signs you just hear the farmers say that they found his animal dead the next morning.”

Dr. DePaz noted that animals can have both rabies and blackleg at the same time. Rabies is a zoonotic condition, meaning it can be spread to humans but so far, there have been no reports of humans contracting the disease.