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Fruit Fly Outbreak Declared In West Hindmarsh

A 1.5km outbreak area has been established around the detection point and quarantine restrictions apply.

Travelling in and out of South Australia, you may have noticed signs everywhere saying not to bring fruit into our great state. These signs are to help avoid outbreaks of fruit flies that will ruin our crops and horticulture in SA, and we’ve done a great job of avoiding these so far.

Unfortunately though, Biosecurity SA has declared an outbreak of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) in West Hindmarsh following the discovery of a gravid (with eggs) female in the area on Monday, 8 January. A 1.5km outbreak area has been established around the detection point and quarantine restrictions apply.

Executive Director, Biosecurity SA Will Zacharin said staff have commenced an eradication program aimed at eliminating any fruit flies from the outbreak area and nearby surrounds.

“Residents and businesses within the outbreak area will be receiving information from Biosecurity SA about the outbreak and associated quarantine, detailing what part they can play in preventing its spread,” he said. “An organic bait spotting program will be undertaken with staff also concentrating on the removal of fallen fruit from properties within the affected 200m outbreak zone area.”

Queensland fruit fly doesn’t normally exist in South Australia and must have been brought into our state from infested fruit originating from the eastern states. This outbreak, which is the first to occur in South Australia since 2016, has no impact on our fruit fly free status. Biosecurity SA are liaising with the horticultural industry on the outbreak and their eradication campaign.

A few simple measures that residents and businesses inside the quarantine area can do to help eliminate fruit flies, include:

  • DO NOT give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants unless cooked or preserved
  • DO NOT leave fruit or fruiting vegetables lying on the ground
  • DO NOT compost any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including those purchased from a shop
  • DO place all unwanted fruit and vegetables in your green bin for normal collection
  • DO report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010
  • DO cook or preserve excess fruit and fruiting vegetables.

At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is anticipated that the quarantine in West Hindmarsh will be lifted from 2 April 2018.

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