California expands HLB quarantine

The California Department of Food and Agriculture added more of the Mission Viejo area to the state’s huanglongbing quarantine.

Huanglongbing, citrus greening on fruit
Huanglongbing, citrus greening on fruit
(Photo courtesy of USDA/David Bartels)

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has expanded the state’s quarantine for huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease, in the Mission Viejo area of Orange County.

The quarantine restricts the movement of regulated articles from the quarantine areas to prevent the spread of HLB to non-infested areas in the state and the U.S., according to the department.

In December the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service added 85 square miles in the Mission Viejo area including 0.4 acres of commercial citrus.

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