The Department of Agriculture has declared the United States free of the plum pox virus.

The serious disease impacts stone fruit such as plums, almonds, and peaches. No other countries where plum pox is known to occur have successfully eradicated the disease. The virus spreads over short distances by aphids and over long distances via the movement of infected nursery stock.

At a ceremony, the USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach said "we've eliminated this disease and protected the United States' $6.3 billion stone fruit industry."