Biosecurity Queensland plant biosecurity general manager, Mike Ashton, said that although this particular strain of Panama disease has been found on the Atherton Tablelands before, it was important that growers put in place appropriate biosecurity measures to protect their farms from the disease.

The race 1 strain of Panama has previously been identified on the Atherton Tablelands at Mareeba and Tolga, and is endemic throughout most banana-growing regions of Queensland and northern NSW.

The race 1 strain of the disease attacks the Lady Finger and Ducasse varieties of banana, but not Cavendish. Panama disease is a notifiable pest under Queensland’s Plant Protection Act 1989.

The Plant Protection Regulation 2002 establishes quarantine areas in Queensland to prevent the spread of banana pests and diseases, and prescribes measures to contain Panama disease when it is detected.

"We are taking immediate steps to minimise the affect of this outbreak, including issuing directions to prevent spread from the affected property, trace-forward investigations to determine the potential for further spread, and surveillance of the affected property and neighbouring properties to determine the extent of the outbreak," Mr Ashton said.

"We are providing banana growers and other farm workers in the area with information about the disease, specific farm hygiene measures, and on-farm biosecurity practices.

"It is important our efforts are supported by growers with the uptake of these on-farm biosecurity measures to minimise the potential for spread of Panama disease."

Panama disease is a serious disease of bananas that eventually kills the plant.

It is a soil-borne disease that can survive in the soil for as long as 30 years, rendering the infested land non-viable for production of susceptible banana varieties.

The disease is most commonly spread in infected banana-planting material, such as bits and suckers, and by the movement of infested soil and water.

* For more information, call the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries on 13 25 23.