PIRSA declares Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak in Ceduna

An adult Medfly was found during a routine check of permanent monitoring traps in Ceduna on 25 February 2025. Supplementary traps were deployed, in line with detection protocols, to monitor the situation. The supplementary traps captured additional adult Medflies, triggering the outbreak in line with national protocols.

Quarantine restrictions apply in the new Ceduna outbreak area. At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected, it is anticipated that the quarantine in Ceduna will remain in place until at least 29 May 2025.

Acting Director of Biosecurity Operations Con Poulos said the eradication program is underway with staff deployed in the outbreak area.

“We’ll share information with all properties and businesses within this outbreak area about what they need to know, and how they can play a part in preventing its spread,” Mr Poulos said.

“We will have staff on the ground – notably in bright orange overalls – to clean up any fallen fruit on the ground and scour the outbreak area, including backyard trees, for any fruit that may contain larvae as part of the hygiene work.

“In addition, as part of the baiting component of the program, we will have staff out and about applying an organic bait to trees in the outbreak area to lure any remaining wild flies.”

Mr Poulos explained that the State Government is serious about keeping South Australia fruit fly free and has been working hard in the metropolitan Adelaide and Riverland region to keep fruit fly and other pests out of South Australia.

“Mediterranean fruit fly doesn’t have a permanent population in South Australia and is likely to have been brought into our state from infested fruit originating from interstate,” he said.

“With Ceduna being situated close the Western Australian border, it’s really important for all residents and visitors in the West Coast region to be aware of the restrictions on travelling with fresh fruit and vegetables in South Australia.”

Keeping South Australia fruit fly free helps protect the state’s $1.25 billion vulnerable horticulture industry. Fruit fly freedom ensures market access for our horticultural producers, who would otherwise not be able to export their produce to key markets without treatment.

Mr Poulos is confident this outbreak will be resolved with PIRSA’s proven control measures.

“South Australia has a 100% success record in eradicating fruit fly outbreaks, as we’ve seen with the successful eradications of previous Medfly outbreaks in Ceduna and Thevenard in 2018–19,” he said.

Search your address on the fruit fly interactive map to see if fruit and vegetable movement restrictions affect you, depending on where you live, travel, work, or go to school.

Find more information, including quarantine restrictions and detailed maps of the extended outbreak area and suspension area, on www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly.