Biosecurity Queensland has lifted the five-week quarantine on the Mareeba farm after it was shown that the initial positive result, based on a PCR test published in 2010, had proven to be a 'false positive'. The vegetative compatibility group (VCG) of the isolate turned out negative for tropical race 4 (TR4).
Banana growers were urged to remain vigilant. They were reminded that there is still one case of TR4 on a Tully Valley farm — BQ says that the 12 visual, molecular and biological diagnostic tests conducted on the Tully property have all been positive — and that they need to continue with their on-farm security measures. Harvesting under strict interim arrangements had resumed earlier on the Mareeba and Tully properties after the two plantation owners met an extensive list of conditions. According to the North Queensland Register, "the Queensland Government has made a commitment to reimburse the net revenue forgone for the period in which each of the quarantined properties was unable to trade”.