California adds to HLB quarantine

Following the addition of 13.16 square miles in Mission Viejo in March, the California Department of Food and Agriculture says it has expanded the quarantine for huanglongbing, or HLB, in Mission Viejo and Foothill Ranch areas of Orange County to slow the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid.

Also known as citrus greening or HLB, the disease is caused by the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacteria, with the Asian citrus psyllid as its vector.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture also recently expanded the HLB quarantine boundary in the Valley Center of San Diego County due to disease detection in two trees in residential neighborhoods.