Lodi, Calif. – July 20, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have confirmed the positive identification of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) in a residential citrus tree in the Lodi area of San Joaquin County.

The plant sample was confirmed positive for CYVCV on July 7 following a routine multi-pest survey conducted by CDFA. In response, a half-mile plant quarantine has been established around the detection site to help prevent the artificial spread of the disease. The current quarantine area is one-square-mile and is bordered by E Pine St. to the north, S Guild Ave. to the east, E Kettleman Ln. to the south and S Stockton St. to the west.

CDFA officials, in coordination with the San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner, are currently surveying residential properties within the quarantine area and are collecting samples from host plants for additional testing, which remains ongoing. The quarantine may be expanded following any additional CYVCV-positive tree detections.

While this is the first detection of CYVCV in San Joaquin County, it is not the first detection in California. The virus was previously identified in residential citrus trees in Tulare County in 2022 and Los Angeles County in 2023. To date, the disease has not been detected in any commercial citrus groves.

What Residents Should Know

While CYVCV does not pose a threat to human or animal health, it does reduce citrus tree vigor and yield, and may result in a reduction of fruit size, which can have a negative effect on fruit quality.

CYVCV can be spread by pests as they feed from tree to tree, including citrus whitefly, green citrus aphid, melon or cotton aphid, and cowpea aphid, which are known to be present in California. CYVCV can also be spread through grafting and the movement of infected propagative materials and rootstocks and through contaminated tools and equipment. While there is no treatment for CYVCV, as of now the best way to prevent its spread is by controlling pest populations and sanitizing all gardening tools and equipment.

How Residents Can Help

To prevent the spread of this virus into your own backyard and to protect your community’s citrus trees, there are a handful of things that residents can do:

• Support agricultural officials as they inspect citrus and other host plants on your property.
• Consult your local UC Master Gardener or visit your local nursery or garden center to get advice on products that can help protect your citrus tree from the pests that can spread CYVCV.
• Before and after pruning or caring for your trees, ensure your hands and all gardening tools are properly sanitized.
• When grafting, only use registered budwood with source documentation.
• When pruning, double bag all citrus tree material and clippings before disposing of them in your household trash.

For any questions about CYVCV, please call the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899 or visit CDFA’s website to learn more.

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