APHIS expands HLB quarantine in California

A 13-square-mile area in the Mission Viejo area of Orange County has been added due to positive tissue samples taken from residential properties.

Huanglongbing, citrus greening on fruit
Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening or HLB, is caused by the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacteria and spread by the Asian citrus psyllid.
(Photo courtesy of USDA/David Bartels)

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, has expanded the quarantine area in California for huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening or HLB, caused by the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacteria and spread by the Asian citrus psyllid.

The quarantine expands the area in Mission Viejo area of Orange County by 13.16 square miles. APHIS said it added this area due to citrus greening detections in plant tissue samples collected from residential properties in Orange County.

APHIS said no commercial citrus acreage is impacted by this quarantine expansion.

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