Effective November 19, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in a residential area of Los Angeles County, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

On November 16, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed a single wild adult Medfly in Arleta. CDFA confirmed four additional adult Medflies on November 19, which triggered the new quarantine area. Subsequently, four more adult Medflies have been confirmed in addition to a larvae site. In cooperation with CDFA, APHIS is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 102 square miles of Los Angeles County. APHIS is working with CDFA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Medfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

Under IPPC Standards, Ceratitis capitata is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.