From Cayman Islands Department of Environmental Health

Officials from the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) are advising the public to refrain from eating green iguanas, especially from the West Bay area. Thirty dead green iguanas were recently reported to the Department of Environment (DOE) and the cause of death is currently under investigations by both the DOE and the Department of Agriculture (DOA). As a precaution, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is issuing this advisory against consumption of green iguana meat until further notice.

The localised die-off of the thirty (30) green iguanas was first reported to DOE on 28 April, after members of the public in the area near Vulgunners Pond in West Bay, noticed the phenomenon on 23rd April. To help determine the cause of death, the DOA and the DOE organised a necropsy of one of the dead iguanas. As the cause of death could not be determined immediately, tissue samples are being sent overseas for analysis in order to ensure that the cause of death poses no threat to human health and safety.

The public in the meantime is being advised to refrain from consuming green iguana meat and to contact the DOE at 949-8469, if they notice similar localised die-offs in their area.

For further information on food safety, please contact DEH at 949-6696.