The City of Edmonton has confirmed a fifth case of Dutch elm disease (DED) within city limits. Officials reported that an elm tree on private property in the Killarney neighborhood tested positive for the disease, marking it as close to four other cases detected in August.
In response, the city has established a one-kilometre “protocol zone” around the affected trees and will continue monitoring for further cases. Initially, the recently identified tree tested negative in late September, but rapid health decline led to a second test, which confirmed the disease.
The city is working with the property owner to remove the infected tree as part of efforts to limit the spread of DED in Edmonton.