The Xylella fastidiosa bacterium has just been observe in Occitania , a Gallic region so far unscathed , on a production and resale site of ornamental plant to private individual . The pollution was identify on a sample of lavandin ( Lavandula x intermedia , " Grosso " variety ) during a workaday inspection carried out in August 2020 by the regional plant security service of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture . Obligatory ascendency measure were immediately put in position . The bacterium is a risk to plants but does not pose any risk to human wellness .

contiguous precautionary measures have been taken , including the interruption of all commercialization of plants from this organization , while a phytosanitary treatment is being utilize to the entire site . A perimeter within a 2.5 km radius was give around the land site to keep , through surveillance and uprooting , any spread of the disease .

A traceability probe is underway in social club to determine the extraction of the infection . A series of samples is being shoot from all the other plant sensitive to the bacterium and located in the infected domain so as to determine the extent of the contagion . To this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , 200 additional sample have been take and air to the lab for testing ; the analyses are afoot , in exceptional to determine the subspecies of the bacteria .

In conformity with the provisions of the European regulation ( EU ) 2020/1201 , all the plants sensitive to Xylella fastidiosa and present in the septic area will be take away in the coming days .

The State will companion the unnatural companies with the National Agricultural Fund for Mutualization of Health and Environmental Risks .

Detected for the first time in France in 2015 , Xylella fastidiosa is a bacteria that can set on more than 200 plant species and is subject to required control under European and national laws . The symptoms of the disease are difficult to greet and there is no treatment .

Up until now , only two regions present outbreaks of the disease in France : Corsica ( the entire island is consider to be infected ) and Provence - Alpes Côte d’Azur . Since the first irruption in 2015 , nearly 50,000 samples have been taken and break down , 2.8 % of which were positive .

All sector of farming product are give away to a risk of contamination ( vineyard , olive orchards , yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of the Prunus genus , citrus fruit , alfalfa , ornamental species … ) . The bacteria is also a danger for non - cultivated plants that may be of social , environmental and patrimonial interest , such as endemic metal money .

reservoir : Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation