The fungus that causes the disease known as sudden oak death was first discovered in the UK in May 2002. The latest information on incidence in the UK is that nine trees at three sites in Cornwall have now been found to be infected. The trees affected are four holm-oaks, a turkey oak, two beech trees, one sweet chestnut and a horse chestnut. Another tree in Sussex, of a different American species of oak, has also been found to be infected. Some 300 other outbreaks have been detected in the UK, which have mostly been confined to rhododendrons in nurseries and garden centres.
In Ireland the fungus has been found on rhododendron and viburnum shrub species at 31 garden centres-nurseries and on rhododendron at three locations in the wild. To date there have been no positive findings on oak or any other tree species.
There is a number of control mechanisms in place to prevent the introduction and spread of sudden oak death in Ireland. Legislation provides for controls on the movement of rhododendron and viburnum within the EU, including from the UK, through the plant passport system; for import controls into the EU on susceptible plants and wood from areas of the USA where the disease is known to occur; and a provision for official surveys for the fungus to be carried out in all member states. I am increasing our levels of vigilance and surveillance and mechanisms are in place to isolate, manage and where possible eradicate any instances found in Ireland.