Mexican Fruit Fly quarantines have expanded in Texas. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) continue to monitor the situation.

On March 11 a quarantine was announced for Zapata County, Texas, followed by another quarantine on March 21 for Brownsville, Cameron County and Sebastian, Willacy County. On March 22 APHIS and TDA extended yet another quarantine to Sullivan City, Hidalgo County.

There is no commercial agriculture in the Zapata County or Sullivan City quarantine areas. There are 49 acres of commercial citrus in the Brownsville quarantine area and 40 acres of commercial citrus in the Sebastian quarantine area.

APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restricting interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

Read more on the Mexican fruit fly quarantines here.