Antigua and Barbuda warns of Mediterranean fruit fly threat to food security

Antigua and Barbuda: The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy is warning that the Mediterranean fruit fly poses a potential threat to the country’s agriculture and food security, urging residents, travellers and importers to help prevent the pest from becoming established on the islands.

In a public advisory, the ministry said the pest is not present in Antigua and Barbuda and stressed the importance of vigilance to protect local crops.

The Mediterranean fruit fly, commonly known as the medfly, attacks a wide range of fruit and other crops, including mangoes, apples, tomatoes, peppers and papayas. Its introduction could create additional challenges for farmers and threaten local agricultural production.

The medfly occurs in many African countries, the Mediterranean basin, Central and South America, and Western Australia. The ministry further stated that the threat is very close to home. On 25th September 2026, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture declared a phytosanitary emergency. Travellers were instructed not to take fresh fruits, vegetables, or the native plants away from the island. The U.S Department of Agriculture further announced Old San Juan quarantine in Puerto Rico.

The damage done by the medfly is not always visible to the naked eye. Female medflies lay their eggs beneath the skin of the fruit. Under ideal conditions, medflies can complete their lifecycle in about 21 days. One can get mistaken as the fruits can look absolutely Okay while the eggs are present beneath their skin.

The ministry made aware of the possible consequences if the medfly becomes common in Antigua and Barbuda. Farmers will have to spend extra amounts on monitoring, sanitation and control. Low harvests and increased demand could raise the prices of fruits, thereby leaving less purchasing power in the hands of households. The fly looks small, but the damage it does to the agricultural sector is significant. Reduced local supply could increase reliance on imported products. The consequences could extend beyond the site of the outbreak.

The ministry urged citizens to help each other as help will protect both the islands. If damage is suspected, report it at the earliest.