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    July 06, 2011

Disease Forces Closure of Jamaican Citrus Farms

   VOA News

   Map of Jamaica

   The Jamaican government has shut down the nation's citrus nurseries in
   an effort to contain a dangerous disease that threatens the island's
   valuable citrus industry.
   Jamaica's ministry of agriculture said Tuesday that it ordered the
   closure of the nurseries and banned the sale of all citrus plants in
   order to protect the $43 million industry from the citrus greening
   disease known as HLB (huanglongbing).
   The disease is spread by an aphid-like insect and leaves fruit
   discolored, sour and unusable, eventually killing the tree itself.
   Scientists have not yet found a cure.
   The disease also threatens citrus production in parts of the United
   States, South America and Asia.

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