The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is responding to a detection of myrtle rust in an isolated and remote part of the Kimberley.
Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is a fungal disease which infects plants in the Myrtaceae family. Common Australian Myrtaceae species include eucalypts, peppermint trees, turpentine, bottlebrush, paperbark, tea tree and lilly pilly.
It was detected during targeted myrtle rust surveillance led by Queensland Agriculture, Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia and DPIRD.
Bushwalkers and travellers are urged to look for and report plants with signs of myrtle rust and take precautions when travelling in and out northern WA to reduce the spread of myrtle rust into other parts of WA.
For more information visit 👉 https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/myrtlerust
Resources:
Media Release
Fact Sheet