Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabe15
The aphid vector is well established in Florida already for many years, and people are sending plants all over the place lately via the mail and it wouldn't be entirely impossible the virus could have been introduced to FL.
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There are thousands of bananas being shipped from BBTV hotspots around the world to the U.S. mainland each year so BBTV is being reintroduced to the U.S. on a regular basis. Several years ago some bananas shipped from Hawaii to Florida tested positive for BBTV and both the sender and receiver are members of this forum.
The Western Hemisphere was BBTV free for a long time but with the rise in demand for bananas it was clear many years ago that that would not last long.