A highly contagious tomato virus has emerged at a company in Peel en Maas. It is the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV).
Earlier, two companies in Horst aan de Maas were also ravaged by the virus. Just like the Noord-Brabant municipality of Maashorst, Peel en Maas is now new on the list of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Tomato growers ravaged
ToBRFV first emerged in our country in mid-2019. At the moment 41 tomato growers are dealing with the virus. In total, the disease was diagnosed at 57 cultivation locations in the past three years. The locations are supervised.
Also read: Highly contagious tomato virus also ravages Limburg
Harmless
The virus is harmless to humans and animals, but spreads easily via, for example, our hands, birds and insects. The infected tomatoes with spots are edible, but may no longer be sold.
Strict hygiene measures
One of the measures that growers can adopt to prevent the spread is reminiscent of the fight against the corona virus. Growers are advised to implement strict hygiene measures in the greenhouses. Remember to wash your hands or wear gloves. Infected tomato plants eventually die. The virus can also affect peppers and chilies.
Growers who encounter the virus are obliged to report this to the NVWA. Emergency measures have been put in place to prevent the spread within the European Union.