A distressing agricultural crisis has unfolded in El Pilar, Cayo District, where sixteen cattle have succumbed to a mysterious illness since January 2026. The latest casualties were discovered on February 13th when farmer Adrian Balan and his family arrived at their ranch to administer routine vaccinations, only to find three additional animals deceased.
The Balan family, who report experiencing similar losses annually for several years, maintains rigorous animal health protocols despite the ongoing tragedy. Their cattle received dual treatments for tick fever and annual vaccinations against blackleg and rabies. The family further investigated potential causes by testing both water supplies and conducting blood analyses on their livestock, all of which returned normal results.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has identified the culprit as anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease that has prompted more than two months of surveillance in affected regions. BAHA Managing Director Zoe Zetina confirmed the diagnosis, explaining transmission occurs primarily through tick bites and contaminated veterinary equipment.
“Farmers must enhance their tick management protocols,” Zetina emphasized, noting the disease spreads only through these specific vectors and not through direct animal-to-animal contact. The announcement comes as the Balan family continues to seek solutions to an agricultural nightmare that threatens both their livelihood and food security in the region.