Whangarei Queensland fruit fly

The MPI response to the Queensland fruit fly detection in Whangarei
continues today with approximately 60 st aff working in the field. No
further fruit flies have been detected.

There are restrictions on the movement of fruit and some vegetables
out of a defined Controlled Area. This area is a circular zone
extending 1.5km from the location of the fly find in Parihaka and
takes in areas of Parihaka, Riverside and central Whangarei.

Whole fruit and vegetables (except for leafy and root vegetables)
cannot be moved out of the Controlled Area, although fruit and veges
can be carried into the Area.

The restrictions are an important precaution while MPI investigates
whether any further flies are present. If there are undetected flies
out there, the measures will help prevent their spread out of the
area.

The Whangarei Countdown supermarket in Okara Drive and the
PAK’nSAVE Supermarket in Walton Street are not inside the
Controlled Area and sales of fruit and vegetables continue as usual.
MPI asks that people who have bought fruit and vegetables outside
the Controlled Area (for example in these supermarkets or the local
farmers market), but need to travel through this area, ensure that
the produce is in plastic bags for the journey.

Full information about the Controlled Area and the restrictions,
including maps and full instructions is at: http://www.mpi.govt.nz
– follow the fruit fly button.

Work is underway setting an extensive surveillance trapping network
to lure any fruit flies that may be present. Gardens and rubbish bins
in the affected area are being inspected for any signs of fruit flies.
Signs are being put up to mark the Controlled Area and staff are
providing information to the public, schools and shops in the area.

The Controlled Area comprises two zones – Zone A extends 200m from
the site of the detection and Zone B goes from that 200m boundary out
to 1500m.
There are now 104 response traps in Zone A and 81 response traps in
Zone B. The fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap that is part
of MPI’s national surveillance programme. There are 13 of these
routine surveillance traps in the Controlled Area.
Traps from Zone A are being checked daily and traps from Zone B are
being cleared every three days.

The first results of examinations of the Zone A traps will be
available late Saturday 5 April.

Residents in the Controlled Area have been advised to dispose of all
fruit and vegetable waste through in-sink waste disposal units (where
they have them) or in bins provided by MPI. There are 205 of these
MPI disposal bins in the Controlled Area. MPI is emptying the bins
and safely disposing of the material.

MPI has field laboratory facilities in place examining fruit
collected from gardens in the Controlled Area and also to identify
any suspect insects collected. No further fruit flies have been
found.

Ends

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