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The Xylella fasÂtidiosa bacÂterium has spread on the French island of Corsica, with 233 conÂfirmed infecÂtions by January 2016, mostly conÂcenÂtrated in southÂern Corsica. A buffer zone of 10 kiloÂmeÂters around each infected zone has been estabÂlished, covÂerÂing 40% of the island, while comÂpenÂsaÂtion proÂgrams are being finalÂized for affected indiÂvidÂuÂals and comÂpaÂnies facÂing losses.
The increasÂing spread of the Xylella fasÂtidiosa bacÂterium on the French island of Corsica has been creÂatÂing conÂcern since the first case was detected on 22 July 22, 2015 in Propriano. In January, two newly infected zones in the comÂmune of Monacia-d’Aullène located in the Corse-du-Sud departÂment of southÂern Corsica were underÂgoÂing treatÂment to eradÂiÂcate infected plants.
See Also:Complete Coverage of the Xylella Fastidiosa Outbreak
By the end of 2015, there were 194 conÂfirmed infecÂtions in Corsica, and by the end of January 2016, the numÂber had risen to 233. Most of these are conÂcenÂtrated in southÂern Corsica in the Corse-du-Sud departÂment, where there are 222 conÂfirmed cases to date while Haute-Corse has 11.
A buffer zone of a radius of 10 kiloÂmeÂters (6.2 miles) around each infected zone must be mainÂtained. As a result, 40 perÂcent of the island is now demarÂcated as a buffer zone, an area of 3,766 square kiloÂmeÂters (1,454 square miles). Infections have also been detected on the French mainÂland in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in the south of France.
In the meanÂtime, govÂernÂment authorÂiÂties are finalÂizÂing a comÂpenÂsaÂtion proÂgram for those affected by losses as a result of the destrucÂtion of plants infected by Xf. The funds can be applied to cover the costs of safeÂguardÂing susÂcepÂtiÂble plants that have been banned from export. An inforÂmaÂtion and help line has also been set up for comÂpaÂnies requirÂing inforÂmaÂtion on the comÂpenÂsatory meaÂsures being put in place for comÂpaÂnies facÂing losses.
Xylella fasÂtidiosa has been blamed for the devÂasÂtaÂtion of tens of thouÂsands of acres of olive groves in Italy’s Puglia region. EU-wide meaÂsures taken to conÂtain the bacÂterium have so far failed to preÂvent its spread.