A bacterium called ‘Xylella fastidiosa’ is destroying olive groves in the region of Apulia in Spain. The bacteria originated in the United States but was detected in Italy in 2013.
It was given the name 'Olive Ebola' by a researcher, as the disease is highly contagious. Officials in Spain are worried about the possible threat to the country's olive groves; Spain is the largest olive oil producer in the European Union.
The Italian outbreak is causing the spread of the disease and the affected trees have to be cut as the damage is irrevocable.
