Chytridiomycosis and the Caribbean
On the 3rd December 2002, the first outbreak of this disease was reported in the village of Galion, Dominica.
The disease quickly spread and dead mountain chickens have since been found in:
- La Haut
- Elmshall
- Bagatelle
- Coulibistrie
- Soufriere
- Doublanc Valley
- Fab
- Milton Estate
Mountain chicken declines
It is estimated that chytridiomycosis has killed so many frogs that the population of mountain chickens declined by about 70% between December 2002 and March 2004. Outbreaks of the disease are still occurring and threatening the mountain chicken.
We do not yet know what effect the disease is having on Dominica’s other amphibians.