NZ issues movement restrictions to combat spread of myrtle rust
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) myrtle rust response incident controller David Yard says a controlled area extending 10km out from known infected properties is being imposed to help control any spread of myrtle rust from the most infected area around Waitara.
"It is illegal to move any plants or trees belonging to the myrtle family and any garden waste, fruit - feijoa or guava - or prunings from those plants out of this area," Yard said.
Myrtle rust symptoms are suppressed during the cold winter months, Yard said, and it's proving difficult to get a good measure of exactly where the disease is present and the scale of the outbreak.
"We could be dealing with an extensive outbreak, but there remains some possibility we may only have a small level of infection that could ultimately be eradicated."
source: nzherald.co.nz
