http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091224/carib/carib2.html

Tighter restrictions to avoid deadly citrus virus

Published: Thursday | December 24, 2009
Belize (CMC):

Belize agricultural officials have restricted the movement of plants in the south of the country after the bacteria, citrus leprosis, was detected in Hopkins and the Pomona Valley areas, according to a report on www.cananews.net.

Leprosis causes a reduction in citrus yields and the eventual death of trees. It is considered a serious viral disease that is present throughout Central America.

Director of the Research Unit of the Citrus Growers Associa-tion, Stephen Williams, said that they have been informed that leprosis has been found in groves about 20 miles beyond Belize's southern border. Citrus leprosis virus is a disease that is devastating for citrus and is present throughout the whole of Central America, except Belize.

There was a survey done by the International Regional Organi-sation for Agricultural Health and they found that this disease is present in Central America, except Belize.