Farmers in the agricultural belt of Belize, particularly in the Cayo and Stann Creek, are on the alert for the disease vesicular stomatitis (VS), also known as “sore mouth.”
A release from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) through the Press Office today announced that the Authority was awaiting confirmation through tissue from the vesicles of cattle and pigs suspected of carrying the disease from the regional reference laboratory in Panama, but that for now it “highly suspects” that cattle from Cayo and pigs from Stann Creek may have the disease. A total of four reports, three from Cayo and one from Stann Creek, have been made since Tuesday, February 22.
The disease, named for the vesicles or sacs found in the mouth, teat and feet of infected animals, can affect horses, cattle and pigs and may even affect humans. In animals there is excessive salivation, mastitis (swelling or inflammation of the breasts or udders, which can be fatal and disrupt milk supply for cows) and lameness.
Humans exposed to infected animals catch symptoms similar to influenza, such as fever, headaches and muscular aches, but rarely vesicles.
The disease is frequently reported throughout Central America, including Belize, where it occurs at the start of the dry season, and primarily in the Cayo District. But the Belize, Stann Creek and (in 2004) the Orange Walk all reported major outbreaks, which BAHA credits with its own surveillance, since farmers do not report the disease due to its mild symptoms and quick recovery time (from 3 days to 2 weeks).
VS may be transmitted by mosquitoes, contact with infected animals and movement of people, animals, plants, vehicles and equipment. There is no vaccine available and the affected farm is usually quarantined. Livestock owners may use mild antiseptic mouthwash to ease symptoms and allow them to recover more quickly.
The worry for BAHA is that the disease is not differentiated in the field from the deadlier “foot-and-mouth” disease and so VS is what is called a “notifiable” disease, meaning that if it is suspected it must be reported to BAHA or the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, so that it can be confirmed.