CBP discovers fungus in Houston

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture inspector found a shipment of dried palm leaves contained a fungus during a routine inspection of dried palm leaves. The shipment arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Air Cargo from Brazil on October 18. The shipment was later destroyed.
   Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspectors determined
 the disease to be  Chalara urceolata, which infects dead stems mainly found in herbaceous plants, and is known to occur in Ireland, New Zealand and United Kingdom.  Its presence on decorative materials will speed the process of deterioration, which minimizes the quality appearance of products.
…It was the first time the fungus had been discovered in a shipment moving through Houston.