Diseased trees must be removed to protect other citrus trees, neighbors’ trees, and the community’s citrus. While not harmful to humans, the disease kills citrus trees and has no cure.
California’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), reports the deadly citrus plant disease Huanglongbing (HLB) has recently been found in the city of Mission Viejo, triggering an expansion of the HLB quarantine in Orange County to include portions of Rancho Santa Margarita.
The HLB quarantine restricts the movement of citrus plants, citrus plant material, and nursery stock in and out of the area. While not harmful to humans or animals, HLB has no cure, and infected trees will die. CDFA is taking action in the Mission Viejo area to quickly limit the disease’s spread, including the removal of the infected tree. However, this detection is a reminder of the ongoing threat HLB poses to Orange County’s backyard and commercial citrus.
Please report any concerns to CDFA’s Pest Hotline by calling 1-800-491-1899, cooperate with state agricultural officials, and follow best practices to prevent the further spread of the disease and the pest that can spread it, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).
For more information on the HLB quarantine, please review the resource below:
• Active Quarantine Map: Detections Near You
Residents play a critical role in helping to protect California citrus. An estimated 60% of residents in California have at least one citrus tree on their property, and citrus is a major commodity grown in California, with a robust industry that generates over $3.4 billion annually.
More information at https://californiacitrusthreat.org/pest-disease/.