Los Angeles County under plant quarantine to stop spread of dangerous citrus pest

LA County quarantined to halt citrus pest’s spread

LOS ANGELES — The state has placed a plant-movement quarantine on Los Angeles County to slow the spread of an invasive pest that can be carry a deadly citrus bacteria.

California’s Department of Food and Agriculture announced the quarantine on Wednesday, one week after discovering several dozen Asian citrus psyllids in Los Angeles. All citrus must now be commercially washed and packed before leaving the county.

Psyllids are a carrier of huanlongbing, a deadly bacteria that has devastated citrus industries across China, Brazil and Florida.

The pests have jumped quarantines in San Diego and Imperial counties and been detected in Santa Ana, Fresno and a package in Sacramento.

Orange County was placed on quarantine last week.

So far, only the Fresno psyllids have tested positive for the bacteria.