Gillian Keller
PRINCE Charles is pleading with the UK government to ban the import of plants that might have the ‘olive Ebola’ virus that has wreaked havoc on the Balearics.
The British royal issued a ‘call to arms’ to try to keep the Xyella virus, which can infect 350 different plant varieties, out of the UK.
It comes after the UK started annual inspections at suppliers, and to ensure high-risk plants are tested regularly.
The Balearics meanwhile have banned 18 varieties of almond trees from being planted due to their high-risk status – 16 of the varieties are native to the islands.
It is estimated that the ‘olive Ebola’ has destroyed more than 150,000 almond and olive trees in the last decade across Mallorca, and is currently affecting 800,000 trees.
