The government of Amapá, Brazil, has stepped up measures to combat witch broom disease, a plant affliction caused by a fungus and classified as a quarantine pest. This disease has been detected across half of the state's municipalities, prompting the declaration of a phytosanitary emergency to prevent further spread. The local authority, the Agency for Defense and Inspection of Animal Health (Diagro), is actively monitoring entry points and conducting inspections on plant materials potentially contaminated by the disease.

To bolster these efforts, teams from the Plant Sanitary Unit are positioned at strategic barriers throughout the state, including a key checkpoint in Cutias. During these inspections, officials are intercepting plant materials such as leaves and stems, which could unknowingly harbor the disease even in the absence of visible symptoms. This proactive approach aims to halt the transportation of infected materials that exacerbate the issue, particularly considering that the witch broom disease was first reported in areas with indigenous territories.

This intensified response from the Amapá government signifies the growing concern of agricultural threats posed by witch broom disease, which primarily spreads through the movement of infected plant materials. The health of local crops, primarily cacao, is at risk, and the state is committed to safeguarding its agricultural interests while adhering to necessary protocols to manage this quarantine-level pest effectively.